Dominic Jackson was last seen by dogwalkers near Findlater Castle, Moray, on Saturday afternoon.

He had set off from Portsoy Harbour earlier that day and was reported missing on Sunday night when he failed to return home to Laurencekirk.

The 35-year-old’s kayak was discovered almost 80 miles away near Lybster, Caithness, on Monday.

A body, which has not yet been identified, was found in the Highlands on Thursday.

Dozens of volunteers have joined the search for Mr Jackson, including his father Dominic and brother Stuart.

Family members chartered a boat to search caves in the area on Thursday and drone pilots were searching the coast around Banff from the sky.

On Thursday, Mr Jackson’s sister Ellie said the family were “praying for a miracle”.

A piece of safety equipment which had been attached to the kayak was discovered on Tuesday at Portknockie, Moray. https://stv.tv/news/north/1380307-body-discovered-in-search-for-missing-sea-kayaker/

A body has been found in the search to find kayaker Dominic Jackson, who went missing on Sunday night.

The 35-year-old was reported missing after he failed to return from a sea kayaking trip in Portsoy, on the north coast of Aberdeenshire.

A kayak believed to belong to Mr Jackson had been recovered from the sea off the Caithness coast.

Also spotted in the water is safety equipment and a paddle.

An unidentified body has now been discovered in the Lybster area.

Police said the last confirmed sighting of Mr Jackson was on Saturday morning between 10.30am and 11am in the Cullen area.

A Find Dom page set up on Facebook by friends is keeping searchers updated.

Mr Jackson’s green VW Transporter – which he was camping in for the weekend – was found in the Portsoy area. https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/body-found-search-missing-kayaker/

Body found in search for kayaker missing since the weekend

Police have found a body in the search for a kayaker who went missing at the weekend.

Earlier today, Dominic Jackson’s sister Ellie said a phone belonging him was found inside his boat, his sister has said.

She added that she was ‘praying for a miracle’ as the search for her brother Dominic entered its fourth day.

Mr Jackson, 35, was reported missing on Sunday night after he failed to return from a sea kayaking trip in Portsoy, on the north coast of Aberdeenshire.

A kayak believed to belong to him was recovered near Lybster in Caithness, around 50 miles from Portsoy, earlier this week while safety equipment and a paddle were also spotted in the water.

His sister said that she is ‘praying for a miracle

Ms Jackson said her brother’s phone was found in the watertight compartment of the kayak, with the last photos on it taken around Portsoy harbour before he set off on his trip.

She remains hopeful he may be discovered in the area where the vessel was found.

Speaking from Australia, she said: ‘It’s incredible that the kayak has been found on the only beach for miles around. My thinking is he got pushed offshore at Portsoy, the waves and wind were too much to turn round and head for shore and he decided to go with the wind and waves and paddle across. He finds a safe harbour but has then suffered a capsize and has got washed up to the cliff.’

However, she added: ‘It will be an absolute miracle if he is found, given the conditions. But they do happen.’

Jacket & life jacket similar to the one he may have been wearing when he went missing 

Mr Jackson had travelled to Portsoy from his home in Fettercairn, south Aberdeenshire, on Friday.

The Police Scotland helicopter will be conducting searches on Thursday focused on the coastline between Lybster and Brora.

On Wednesday, police dogs helped with foot searches between Cullen and Buckie while the dive marine unit scoured the coastline.

Police also issued images of a jacket Mr Jackson may have been wearing. It is bright yellow with blue zips and black cuffs and waist band, and he may also have had a blue and grey buoyancy aid with yellow zips.

Neither of the items have been recovered.

Around 10 members of Mr Jackson’s family including his father Jeremy Jackson, brothers Stuart Jackson and Leighton Chubb and sister Kirstie Maywood are now in the north east helping with the search.

The family is originally from Uckfield near Brighton but Mr Jackson, one of six siblings, has lived in Aberdeenshire for around 13 years and runs a gardening business in the Laurencekirk area.

More than 1,000 people have joined a Find Dom Facebook page which was set up to help co-ordinate the search for him.

Ms Jackson added: ‘It’s phenomenal what effort people are going to. We’re really blown away by it.’

Inspector Kevin Goldie said: ‘Searches have resumed this morning both in the north and north east as our operation to trace Dominic continues. I am aware that well-intentioned members of the public have offered their own drones to assist, however I must warn of the implications this can have for air craft and the potential interference. Drones can pose a significant threat to small air crafts when they will be flying at lower altitudes, and I can’t stress enough the dangers.”  http://metro.co.uk/2017/02/09/family-praying-for-a-miracle-over-kayaker-missing-since-the-weekend-6437826/#ixzz4YCa4QJuo