POLICE have confirmed the identity of a body found in the Solent during a hunt for a kayaker who went missing in the Solent.

Officers confirmed Stephen Taylor was found dead by rescue teams after searching for him for more than a day.

His family has released a statement thanking the emergency services for their efforts.

The statement said: "The family would like to thank all the emergency services, including volunteer search agencies and the RNLI lifeboats for their efforts in trying to find Stephen."

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

A coastguard helicopter, rescue teams and lifeboats were launched to search off the coast of Hill Head.

The hunt was launched after kayaker Stephen Taylor failed to return and this morning crews across the south were searching for him.

But this yesterday a body was discovered by police and coastguard searching for Mr Taylor.

It believed the discovery was in Newtown Creek on the isle of Wight.

The 54-year-old, of Newbroke Road, in Gosport, left Lee-on-Solent at around 11.30am on Saturday in his blue coloured kayak with the intention of paddling to Lepe Beach on the Waterside.

Mr Taylor, who was an experienced canoeist, was in touch with his partner throughout the day but when he had failed to return home late in the evening she alerted police.

He was believed to be wearing a wetsuit, light blue coloured long sleeved top, navy blue life jacket with a red detail and a beige sun hat.

A police statement said: "Police assisting in the search for missing kayaker, 54-year-old Stephen Taylor, can confirm a body has been located.

"Mr Taylor’s family have been notified and are being supported by officers.

"Formal identification procedures have not yet taken place."

It is believed there had been a sighting of Mr Taylor at approximately 10.50pm last night by a passing vessel.

A Hampshire poilce spokesman said: "An area has been cordoned off in Salterns Lane, Hill Head to assist the search.

"We would advise members of the public to avoid the area where possible."

Crews from Gosport, Yarmouth, Hamble, Calshot and Lymington have helped in the overnight search, supported by the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter searching waters off the Isle of Wight.

Daily Echo:

 Ash Rawson, controller at the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham, said: ''We are searching for a kayaker who was expected home last night.

''A vessel has been in contact with us to report a possible sighting and we are following up on this report as well as continuing our in-depth search of the area with multiple agencies.''

 

Daily Echo:

 

At least 10 people from the Hampshire search and rescue squad and more than 10 police officers were at the scene waiting for instruction on where to head.

They  cordoned off part of Saltern Road and part of the seafront to prepare for their rescue mission as people walk by asking if they know what has happened to the kayaker.