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TWO sisters drowned in a river near Aberdeen after they disappeared earlier this year, cops have confirmed.

Henrietta and Eliza Huszti, both 32, went missing on January 7.

Photo of Eliza Huszti.
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Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were seen on CCTV on Market Street at the Victoria Bridge over the River Dee around 2.12am on January 7Credit: Unpixs
Illustration of CCTV footage and map showing the last known movements of missing twins.
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A map reveals the route the sisters took before they disappeared
Police divers searching a river from a boat.
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A major police search was launchedCredit: Paul Reid

Their bodies were found in the River Dee at the end of last month and police have since confirmed their cause of death was drowning.

Originally born in Hungary, the pair were from a set of triplets.

Cops are not treating their deaths as suspicious but do believe the women were both spotted alive near the river.

A major search operation began last month after Henrietta, a coffee shop assistant, and Eliza, a hotel housekeeper, went missing.

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Both were believed to have been seen in the early hours of January 7 as they crossed Victoria Bridge before turning right towards Boat Club.

They had texted their landlady from the area to say they were giving up their flat in Aberdeen.

The landlady found possessions that had been left behind, including a mobile phone.

Neither women had informed their close relatives of the imminent plans.

The first body was found near Queen Elizabeth Bridge on the morning of January 31.

Cops continued their search of the area and found a second body later that evening.

Timeline of the search

Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV near the Victoria Bridge in Aberdeen around 2:12AM on Tuesday 7 January.

Here is a timeline in the search for the missing sisters:

December 31

Sister Edit said she had spoken to both her siblings on New Year's Eve.

January 4

Brother Jozsef speaks to the pair over the phone.

January 6

Caught on camera carrying rucksacks and visiting the River Dee at around 2.50pm.

January 7

Sisters disappeared from the city's Market Street at the Victoria Bridge over the river at around 2.12am.

January 8

Landlady reports her concerns to the police and divers are called in to search the waters of the River Dee.

January 17

Police release the new CCTV image of the sisters walking near Victoria Bridge on the day before their disappearance.

January 27

Searches of the River Dee had been brought to an end.

January 31

Police find two bodies in the River Dee during their search for Eliza and Henrietta

The Victoria Bridge and Queen Elizabeth Bridge are around half a mile apart on the River Dee.

The double tragedy came just four days after cops called off their searches of the River Dee and the harbour area.

Superintendent David Howieson said: "Our thoughts remain with the Huszti family and we are keeping them fully updated following these recoveries.

"We know how much of an impact this has had in Aberdeen and much further afield and I would like to thank everyone who has assisted with our investigation."

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: "The body of a second woman was recovered from the River Dee in Aberdeen on Friday, 31 January, 2025.

"Officers found the body in an area of the river near to the Victoria Bridge around 9.05pm and it was subsequently recovered.

"The woman has yet to be identified but the family of Eliza Huszti, 32, who had been reported missing in the area on Tuesday, 7 January, has been informed.

"Enquires are ongoing to establish the full circumstances but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.

"This follows the discovery of the body of a woman in the River Dee around 7.55am on the same date and the family of Henrietta Huszti, 32, were informed."

CCTV captured the women walking together along Market Street on the freezing night.

Police were previously unable to find any explanation as to why they would have headed to the unlit spot in the Torry area as temperatures plunged below zero.

The steep unpaved path was covered in ice at that time and hard to tackle even in daylight.

Eliza and Henrietta, originally from Hungary, arrived in the UK six years ago and had been working in Aberdeen since then.

A set of triplets, their sister Edit said she spoke with both women on New Year's Eve.

They also have a brother, Jozef, who has told of his concern for the whereabouts of the pair.

József told the BBC everything seemed normal during a 40-minute phone call with them, but they never mentioned the fact they were leaving their flat.

He said: “We don't understand this whole thing.

"That they wrote a message to their landlady, that they wanted to immediately end their tenancy agreement. We didn't have any information about that.

"So that's the strange thing, that the girls didn't tell us anything about that.”

He added how the siblings had no financial difficulties and were saving up to buy their own property.

Meanwhile, the devastated father of the Huszti sisters previously spoke out.

63, told Hungarian reporters: "I have no idea what happened to my daughters, but I am sure they did not commit .

"I believe they did not send the SMS to their landlord, but someone else or others who cheated and kidnapped my .

"I am sure that someone lured them to the waterfront and cruelly killed them."

He also told Hungarian news site SZON: "My son called me to say that they had probably found Henrietta.

"She has a  of an angel, and they'd identified her based on that. I have never felt such pain before. Edit, my third daughter, also completely collapsed."

Speaking from Budapest to the Press and Journal, Jozsef Huszti said: "We want to find out the reason they died. It's hard, but we would like to know the answers.

"I don't think there will be many answers given in the coming days - but the story isn't quite over yet. I truly believe the local police will do their best to do a full  and give answers about what happened exactly. My family and I are religious people. We believe that with the help of God, we will learn what happened."

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He added: "Eliza and Henrietta had a deeper connection with their mum. No matter what, they would always be in touch with her, whether they had any problems or good news to share.

"They would call her to get advice and opinions - no matter what the issue."

Black and white photo of Eliza and Henrietta Huszti.
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Police Scotland issued a handout photo of the women after they disappearedCredit: PA
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