The family of a Leuchars woman whose body was discovered on a Fife beach have described her death as a “tragic accident”.
Maureen Bannister, 43, disappeared after taking her dog for a walk at Tentsmuir on Sunday afternoon..
Her body was found on Tentsmuir Beach the following evening following a major search, despite initial police optimism that she would be found alive.
Yesterday her family issued a statement through Police Scotland thanking all those involved in the search effort.
It described Ms Bannister as a “caring and fun-loving person”.
“We would like to thank everybody who helped in the search for Maureen – the police, coastguards, helicopter personnel, and dog handlers, many of whom were volunteers,” it said.
“We would also like to thank everyone who sent kind messages through social media or text.
“Everyone who met ‘Mo’ will know how much of a kind, caring, fun-loving person she was and she is going to be sadly missed.
“Now that we know it’s been a tragic accident we ask to be allowed some time to grieve as a family.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said there were no suspicious circumstances in Ms Bannister’s death.
Ms Bannister, who is believed to have lived with her father and teenage daughter at their home in Leuchars, was first reported missing on Sunday evening.
She had left her home to walk her pet Yorkshire Terrier at around 2pm, driving to Tentsmuir in her Ford Focus.
Her disappearance prompted a huge search, which resulted in both the car and dog being found at the popular dog walking spot.
As well as a search helicopter, two lifeboats from Broughty Ferry had been searching the local coastline, while coastguard teams from Carnoustie, St Andrews and Montrose also arrived at the beauty spot.
Her car was found abandonded at the Tentsmuir Beach car park and although her dog was also initially reported as missing, it was found after it returned to the car without its owner.
Having worked with the SSPCA for around a decade, it is understood that Ms Bannister had recently left her job in order to study at college.