A body found by teams desperately searching a lake is missing triathlete Paul Gallihawk, police confirmed.

The news that many had feared came on Bank Holiday Monday.

Mr Gallihawk went missing on Saturday while tackling the first leg of a race on Leybourne Lakes in Larkfield. Officers said Mr Gallihawk's family had been fully informed about developments.

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By 1pm search crews and Mr Gallihawk's family had left the country park.

The 34-year-old from Maidstone failed to emerge from the water, sparking a huge search operation which continued on Sunday and Monday.

The race – which was subsequently called off – was the fifth leg of the Ocean Lake Triathlon sprint series, consisting of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.

Mr Gallihawk, who works for a recruitment firm in Sevenoaks, was raising money for King’s College Hospital in London, and had set up a JustGiving page.

He urged his Facebook friends to donate, saying it was his first triathlon and adding that the hospital had helped his father last year.

He had hoped to hit a £300 target, but donations have topped several thousand pounds after people heard about his disappearance and pledged cash.

Mr Gallihawk's family, long-term girlfriend and friends are understood to have been at the lake as the search for him continued.

Today his family, girlfriend and friends paid tribute to the recruitment consultant, saying: "He had such a caring nature and will be sadly missed by all the family, extended family and friends."

The search began at 8.45am on Saturday after organisers raised the alarm when one bicycle remained unsaddled when all the competitors had finished the 750-metre swim.

Emergency crews were alerted and police officers, fire crews and about 30 volunteers from Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR) were called in to help find Mr Gallihawk.

Two fast kayaks, two open canoes and a powerboat scoured the vast lake, with specialist bank rope teams searching the water's edge.

A police helicopter had earlier been scrambled to join in the search, but was later stood down.

The search was suspended on Sunday night but resumed on Monday morning at 7.30am in misty and foggy conditions.

It involved a diving team which has travelled from Norfolk, and teams in boats with a sonar device. The sonar scans the water and can detect anything unusual which may be submerged.

It was last used in Maidstone during the search for Pat Lamb, who fell into the River Medway after a pre-Christmas night out.

Kent Search and Rescue's Stewart Baird said: "The sonar device allows us to search a greater area. We have two kayaks, and two powerboats on the lake and the divers are preparing to go in. There are another 20 or so people scanning the banks of the lake.

"We have been scouring the lake itself as best we can.

"We have two open canoes, two-man canoes, which move a bit slower and can do a more thorough search.

"We also have a powerboat on the water which is covering the main area and supporting those teams, as well as the underwater search teams who will be going into the water later today.

"We’re doing everything possible to help find this gentleman, but the lakes can be dangerous and it’s not recommended that anybody swim in lakes, no matter how nice the weather can be.

"It has to be under controlled circumstances."

On the race website, organisers say people are not allowed to swim in the lake until they have undertaken an open water swim assessment - unless taking part in an OLT event.

They add members must also be aware of all the specific dangers related to open water swimming.

Competitors are asked to wear a brightly-coloured swim cap at all times and for novices to inform race officials at registration.

If anyone requires assistance in the water, they are asked to turn onto their backs and raise an arm to summon the safety boat.

During the race, at least three kayaks and a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) were supervising.

The triathlon organisers took to Facebook on Sunday afternoon to tell of their shock.

They said: "We are shocked by what happened at the Ocean Lake Triathlon and are working closely with the emergency services to do everything that we can do to assist them in their search.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."

OLT is based at Leybourne Lakes Country Park and Simon Langton School in Canterbury.

At the last sprint tri race, last month, 106 participants are recorded as competing.

Many took to social media to voice their fears and hopes for a positive outcome.