Police name missing kayaker as New Zealander who lived in Shetland

Police have named the man who went missing in his kayak off St Ninian’s Isle last week as Kester Wigram, 51, who was originally from Wellington in New Zealand but had been living in Shetland for more than 10 years.

Mr Wigram was last seen outside the Bigton shop where he parked his car at around 11am on Thursday morning before setting off in his red craft from the beach.

An extensive search was conducted involving Shetland’s two lifeboats, the coastguard rescue helicopter and coastal search teams on Friday and Saturday. Local teams are continuing to search the coastline on foot.

Mr Wigram was a chemical engineer and had worked in the oil and forestry industries in different countries around the world before he came to Shetland. He has been described as an experienced kayaker who kept himself very fit and loved challenging himself within the natural environment.