He was reported missing on Sunday night after he failed to return from a sea kayaking trip in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.

The vessel matching the distinctive colours of Dominic’s boat was found on Sunday night near Wick, about 50 miles across the Moray Firth.

Ellie, who now lives in Australia, today said: “I’m very hopeful. The scenario in my head is he has become separated from the boat which has been carried away by the wind.

“He will have turned round, come into the seashore and ended up on a secluded beach somewhere, then decided to climb up a cliff and then fallen and is lying at the base of a cliff injured, perhaps with a broken leg.

“He can’t move to a visible spot and is waiting for rescuers, that’s my working theory.”

Cops said a vast area has been searched on both land and water – stretching from Buckie to Fraserburgh

Today further searches are being carried out on land between Portsoy and Buckie.

Inspector Ewan Strachan said: “Our efforts to trace Mr Jackson are continuing and we have a team of specialist officers in place – including a dive team – with support from the Coastguard to continue the search today, particularly in the direction of where the kayak was recovered.

“Unfortunately, weather conditions are not favourable and our resources will continue to be deployed accordingly.

“We will be liaising with our Police colleagues in the north to ensure the search area is maximised.

“Foot searches along the coastline from Portsoy up to Buckie are currently ongoing with assistance from members of the public, and I would once again like to thank them sincerely for their help.”

He said the last confirmed sighting of Mr Jackson was on Saturday between 10.30am and 11am in the Cullen area where he asked some local people where the best spot to go kayaking might be.

Inspector Strachan added: “Several people have come forward so far, however I would like to appeal to any other kayakers who were in that area at the time and may have seen Mr Jackson to please get in touch, no matter how insignificant you think your information might be.”

Top Stories:

ANT AND WRECKED

Ant McPartlin arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after crashing Mini