AN e-fit has been released to identify a kayaker found dead on a beach.

Mystery remains over the identity of the man, who was found dead on the beach on the Isle of Wight after visiting the Brighton Canoes shop in Newhaven.

The e-fit was released after The Argus came up with the idea to try to help trace any family or friends as police have not been able to work out who the man is.

The man, aged between his mid 20s and mid 30s, was found dead on Yaverland Beach on the Isle of Wight on September 11 and detectives are yet to hear from anyone who knew him, more than three weeks on.

He was last seen alive in Newhaven on September 8, where he bought an inflatable yellow and black Sevylor Conrad kayak from Brighton Canoes. Police know this as a receipt was found in his pocket.

And, in several appeals to identify him, it was revealed he had told shop staff he was studying in Brighton.

Officers have already released CCTV images of the man in Newhaven, but this has not led to him being identified.

Police officers investigating the unidentified man's demise are contacting colleges and universities locally in the hope of triggering memories of him.

Detective Sergeant John Walton of Isle of Wight CID told The Argus: "We are now over three weeks in and still no one has come forward who knows this man. If he's local, it's highly unusual but if he's travelled from elsewhere it's not as unusual."

As per the e-fit, the man is white, with dark hair and blue eyes. He was described as “well built” with "nice teeth". He was wearing a blue zip-up jacket and is believed to have had an Irish accent.

DS Walton added: "We are in touch with the Garda [Irish police] and nothing has come of that. It's surprising."

He said an e-fit of someone dead was "a last resort", adding: "It's not something we have done before in my time."

The man was found in his kayak in the shallows of the beach by dog walkers, with cuts to his body, leading to officers treating his death as a potential suicide.

However, they have not ruled out the possibility he cut himself after being "driven to distraction" suffering from hypothermia.

His back pack contained, among other things, a packet of Asda custard creams.

If you have any information, call Hampshire Police on 101 and ask for Newport CID, quoting 44150315983.