On the morning of November 14, 2025, a sense of urgency swept through the usually quiet Highland town of Nairn. Around 9:15 AM, emergency services were called to a dramatic scene: a blue Fiat Panda had plunged into the River Nairn near Howford Bridge, just 1.4 miles south of the town. The incident, which unfolded off Cawdor Road, set in motion a large-scale search and rescue operation, drawing in police, firefighters, paramedics, water rescue teams, and coastguard crews, as reported by BBC and The Scottish Sun.
Residents in the area quickly noticed the commotion, with water rescue teams and firefighters arriving in force. According to STV News, two fire appliances, two boat resources, and a host of other emergency vehicles converged on the riverbank. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service noted, “We were alerted at 9.25am on Friday, 14 November to reports of a car entering the water at Howford Bridge in Nairn. Operations Control immediately mobilised two appliances and two boat resources to the scene. Two occupants had already exited the vehicle, and one casualty was in the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Crews left the scene around noon after ensuring the area was made safe.”
As the dust settled, the facts became clearer. The car had two occupants at the time of the crash. The passenger, whose identity has not been disclosed, was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for assessment. Their condition remains unknown, according to several outlets including The Scottish Sun and The Press and Journal. The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed, “We received a call at 9.32am to attend an incident near Howford Bridge, south of Nairn. We dispatched two ambulances to the scene, and we transported one patient to Raigmore Hospital.”
But the story took a more complicated turn when it was discovered that the driver had left the scene before police arrived. Police Scotland quickly identified the missing driver as Martin Hannah, a 59-year-old man from Nairn. He was last seen on Cawdor Road, matching the time and location of the river incident. Hannah is described as 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build, with short red hair, and was wearing a black T-shirt and black jogger bottoms at the time of his disappearance, according to the BBC and The Scottish Sun.
Authorities wasted no time launching a search for Hannah. Coastguard teams from both Nairn and Inverness were deployed, and a search and rescue helicopter was seen circling above the area, as confirmed by HM Coastguard. Police, meanwhile, closed Howford Bridge (B9090) and the nearby Crook Road (C1175) to facilitate the ongoing operation. The public was urged not to approach Hannah if spotted, but instead to contact Police Scotland immediately. Sergeant Steven Maclennan of Police Scotland voiced the growing anxiety felt by all involved, stating, “Concerns are growing for Martin’s welfare, and it is vital that we find him to make sure he is safe and well. Extensive searches are ongoing, and we are asking Martin or anyone who has seen someone matching Martin’s description or knows where he might be to get in touch.”
Images from the scene painted a stark picture: the blue Fiat Panda, partially submerged in the river, was tied to a tree on the bank with a blue rope, evidence of the rescue efforts underway. According to The Scottish Sun, the car’s position and the urgency of the response left little doubt about the seriousness of the situation. The incident quickly became the talk of the town, with locals expressing concern and speculation about the fate of both the driver and the passenger.
As the hours passed, the search for Martin Hannah intensified. Police confirmed that they had received information about Hannah’s disappearance at around the same time as the car crash, but stopped short of officially linking the two incidents. Outlets such as The Press and Journal and BBC reported that, while the timing and location strongly suggested a connection, officers declined to confirm or deny any link when asked directly. The uncertainty only added to the tension and speculation swirling around the incident.
The Highland Council, meanwhile, issued a statement regarding the road closures: “Howford Bridge, Nairn (B9090) and the C1175 known as Crook Road are closed due to a car that has left road.” The closures underscored the seriousness of the situation and the scale of the emergency response. Coastguard teams continued to search the river into the evening, their efforts illuminated by the flashing lights of emergency vehicles and the whirring blades of the helicopter overhead.
By Friday evening, however, there was a significant development. Police Scotland issued a statement confirming that Martin Hannah had been found. The details of how and where he was located have not been made public, and it remains unclear whether Hannah was injured or required medical attention. The condition of the passenger, too, remains unknown at this time. Nevertheless, the news brought a measure of relief to the community and to the emergency services who had spent the day searching the riverbanks and surrounding areas.
Throughout the ordeal, authorities repeatedly stressed the importance of public cooperation. Members of the public who might have seen someone matching Hannah’s description were asked to contact Police Scotland, quoting incident number 0665 of November 14. Sergeant Maclennan’s plea was echoed across multiple news outlets: “Extensive searches are ongoing, and we are asking Martin or anyone who has seen someone matching Martin’s description or knows where he might be to get in touch.”
The incident has also highlighted the challenges faced by emergency services in responding to sudden and complex accidents in rural areas. The swift deployment of multiple agencies—including police, fire, ambulance, water rescue, and coastguard—demonstrated the level of coordination required for such a response. The closure of key roads and the use of aerial support underscored the seriousness with which the incident was treated from the outset.
As of now, questions remain about what caused the car to leave the road and plunge into the river. Police have not released further details about the circumstances leading up to the crash, nor have they commented on the relationship between the driver and the passenger. For now, the focus remains on the welfare of those involved and the efforts of the emergency teams who rushed to their aid.
For the people of Nairn, the events of November 14, 2025, will not soon be forgotten. The dramatic rescue, the anxious search for a missing man, and the outpouring of concern from the community have left a lasting impression on this Highland town.
