Search efforts continue for Evan Zeller, who went missing after his kayak capsized in Lake Erie on Nov. 5
Sheffield Lake Police Chief Andrew Kory confirmed the missing man’s identity Nov. 16.
Zeller, 30, went into the water near the Sheffield Lake boat launch on Lake Road as he apparently had an issue with his oar, authorities have said.
First responders were called for a rescue effort for Zeller after he made a phone call to his wife telling her he had gone in the water.
A number of public and private agencies searched the increasingly choppy water for Zeller but had no luck finding him.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources is now the agency in charge of the search efforts, according to spokesperson Stephanie O’Grady.
“It’s Lake Erie and it’s hard. It may take a while,” O’Grady said.
The U.S. Coast Guard continue to search the waters as does the Ohio State Highway Patrol by use of airplane in addition to ODNR, she said.
The search is contingent upon manpower and the weather conditions but remains continuous, Grady said.
“Even our lieutenant said he was very impressed by the efforts,” O’Grady said.
Zeller was wearing a lime green life jacket, gray shorts and gray T-shirt when he went into the water.
“He came off a tandem kayak and capsized in the water,” Coast Guard Officer Beckman Pettyjohn said at the time.
“The individual was able to contact his wife and the other kayaker who had made it back to land at this point, and had stated to them that his kayak had capsized,” he said. “While he was speaking to his wife they presumed the phone fell into the water and contact was lost.”
Zeller’s family and friends are asking the public for their help in searching for him as well.
“If you are going out on the lake, please keep your eye out for the light green life jacket, green kayak pictured on the left,” stated a flyer being posted on social media.
O’Grady was also given a copy of the flyer as the public agency continues the search, she said.
“As we work to find Evan, we need additional resources to assist in our efforts to bring Evan home to his family,” the document stated.
“We are asking for help from experienced captains on Lake Erie. We are asking for help from drone pilots who can do scans from shore and review videos. We are looking for airplane or helicopter resources that could help,” the flyer stated.
Anyone with the resources to assist is asked to contact Bob Dunn at 419-408-1391 or rjdunn335@live.com.
Dunn referred further questions to ODNR as did one of Zeller’s family members.
