RCMP in New Brunswick are scaling back their search efforts for a man reported missing after he failed to return from a kayaking trip.
Police say Donald Lavigne of Gloucester-Junction went kayaking on Wednesday.
His kayak was found on Thursday about half a kilometre south of the Route 11 overpass, near Bathurst, following an extensive search of the area.
Police say his life jacket was found on a rock in the middle of the Nepisiguit River, near Salmon Beach, but there has been no sign of the 60-year-old man.
"Extensive searches conducted by the RCMP dive team, as well as ground and air searches have returned no sign of Mr. Lavigne in the areas where his kayak and life jacket were located," says Cpl. Dan Dorais of Northeast RCMP in Bathurst.
"While we are scaling back our search, we will continue to conduct patrols in the area."
Initial search efforts were led by the Bathurst Police Force but the file has since been handed over to the RCMP.
Ground Search and Rescue teams from Restigouche-Chaleur and Miramichi as well as other partner agencies and members of the public have participated in the search.
