Police Scotland have confirmed that a body recovered on Thursday, February 9, during the search for missing kayaker Dominic Jackson was that of the 35-year-old.

A man’s body was discovered in the water near Lybster at around midday during air searches by the Police Scotland helicopter. Wick lifeboat was launched to assist with the recovery.

Inspector Kevin Goldie, who helped lead the police search, said: “I can sadly confirm that the body recovered on Thursday has been identified as Dominic’s. His family has been made aware and we are supporting them at this very difficult time. This is not the outcome anyone wanted, and our thoughts are obviously with all of Dominic’s family and friends.”

Prayers were said locally for the safe return of Dominic whose family have a holiday home on Caldey Island.

In a post on our Facebook page, Mr. Jackson’s sister Ellie had posted: “Thanks everyone in Tenby - Dominic Jackson and our whole family hold Tenby and Caldey very close to our hearts and it helps tremendously to know we have all the monks and islanders, plus Tenby all praying and hoping for Dom’s safe return.”

His sister Ellie, who lives in Australia, has set-up a fundraising page to start a charity, PLanB, which has already raised £8,000 in just a few days. PLanB’s mission is to make sure that anyone that participates in adventurous sports or activities has a Plan B for when the unexpected might happen and you find yourself in an emergency situation.

In a statement released through North East Scotland Police Division, in which they paid tribute to the emergency services and volunteers who searched for Dom, his family said: “Dom should have taken some very basic safety precautions such as logging in and out with family or friends and HM Coastguard to let them know of his plans for the day. He should have had more adequate provisions or survival gear especially when heading out into the freezing conditions. He should have had easy access to his mobile ’phone which was stored in a difficult to access hatch behind his seat. He also should have been wearing a Personal Locator Beacon or PLB.

“A PLB is a small wearable device that operates using GPS and radio waves. When activated in an emergency it can pinpoint your location to within a few metres. They are relatively inexpensive (under £200), are lightweight and are not only for use when out on the water for kayakers, sailers, kite and windsurfers, etc, but can also be used for many land based adventures such as climbing, mountain biking and hill walking. They are an invaluable piece of equipment to help locate you and should always be part of your Plan B emergency kit.

“All money raised will be spent on initial costs involved in setting up a charity in Dom’s name. Once the charity has been set-up and, working together with the support of the RNLI, the overall aim will be to campaign to raise awareness of the use of PLB’s and correct sea safety logging procedures via an app and website.

“Further down the track, we would be looking to provide educational material to support the teaching of this information to children and adults to ensure that carrying a PLB at sea is as common to everyone as wearing a seatbelt in a car or a lifejacket on the water.

“We would also be looking to create the ability to hire out PLBs, and to fund the availability of PLBs to groups of water users and charities.”

The website www.myplanb.life has been set-up by Dom’s sister to start a campaign to raise awareness and already she has been contacted by many adventure sport enthusiasts who have told her they will be purchasing a PLB.

Dom was the much-loved youngest brother of six siblings, older sisters Kate, Kirstie and Ellie and older brothers Leighton and Stuart. His parents were keen campers and hikers and this is where a love of the outdoors began with weekend camping trips and half-terms spent walking the South Devon coastal path. Dom and his family also spent a large majority of their holidays at their holiday home on the monastic island of Caldey. An idyllic beach existence including rock climbing, caving, snorkelling, swimming and fishing, the children had the freedom to explore and create their own adventures which is hard to find in modern life.

Dom continued his adventures with time spent in Cubs and Scouts, learning to kayak, sail, climb and hike, then taking part in the Tall Ships Race with the London Sailing Project. After a year travelling in Australia, he went to the University of Manchester to study environmental science and began a career in the oil industry in Aberdeen. After 10 years in an office, Dom realised his love of nature and being outside was too important to ignore and leaving an industry where he was highly respected, he began his own gardening business, Oakleaf Gardening in Laurencekirk. Three years later, he and his partner have built up a successful business from scratch.

Dom had just recently found himself at a time in his life with very little responsibilities and so after working hard all week in a physically demanding job, he would venture out into the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and Islands looking for new challenges and experiences.

“It was his confidence in his own physical fitness and capabilities together with an under appreciation for the dangers he was placing himself in that has ultimately led to his death,” added the family statement. “This is what makes his loss so hard for the family to bear as it was completely unnecessary had he made some basic preparations.”

A Find Dom - The Legend Lives on Facebook has also been set-up.