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Body found near Dunkirk was missing Ohio kayaker

DUNKIRK — Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputies announced Friday the body found this week near the shore of Lake Erie by Canadaway Creek was that of a missing kayaker from Ohio.

Evan Zeller, 30, of Sheffield Lake, was reported missing in November after he was unable to re-board his kayak after he fell out in the area of Sheffield Lake. Coordination between the Ohio Department of Natural resources, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Erie County Medical Examiner’s office led to the identification of Zeller.

A person notified Dunkirk police of the body on Thursday morning.

According to the Morning Journal of Lorain, Ohio, Zeller went into the water near the Sheffield Lake boat launch on Lake Road on Nov. 5 after struggling with one of the craft’s oars.

First responders, the Ohio newspaper reported, were called for a rescue effort for Zeller after he reportedly made a phone call to his wife telling her he had gone into the water. Zeller was wearing a lime green life jacket, gray shorts and a gray T-shirt when he went into the water.

His kayak was found in early December in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, the Morning Journal reported. In a post to Facebook, Zeller’s wife noted that the kayak was recovered 188 miles from the spot Evan went missing.

Zeller is survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter.

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