'If someone can survive this, it's him': Cousin of missing kayaker remains hopeful

Chloé Allain says if she or anyone else in her family were missing, her cousin Luc Bourgeois "would not be sleeping right now, he'd be looking for us."

The 34-year-old Bourgeois was reported missing on Thursday after he departed in a kayak from the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf near Shediac around 1 p.m. to go on a fishing trip.

Allain said family members have also organized their own searches, with over a hundred people looking for her cousin in different areas, including Prince Edward Island.

"It's just not his time to go yet," she said.

"He is somewhere just waiting to be found and we are going to find him," she said.

Allain said Bourgeois's kayak was found along with his phone and life-jacket, but there was no sign of Bourgeois himself.

Bourgeois is described as being about five feet six inches tall and 170 pounds, with long curly brown hair, a beard and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black shorts, a blue and grey life-jacket, a Bass Pro Shops hat, sunglasses and black Under Armour sandals, according to police.

On Friday, the search for Bourgeois included helicopters, boats and a drone.

The Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was involved in initial search efforts, but said Saturday the search was in the hands of RCMP.

On Saturday, the RCMP confirmed the search continues, but provided no other updates.

Allain said she's "not tapping out" and is hopeful her cousin will be found alive.

"He is strong and if someone can survive this, it's him," she said.