Body Of Missing Kayaker Found In Fort Sheridan

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The body of a 20-year-old Glenview man was found on the shores of Lake Michigan, nearly two weeks after he and a friend took off in kayaks from Highland Park, authorities said.

Sebastian Duncan, a 2016 New Trier High School graduate who grew up in Wilmette, went missing on the lake on the night of Aug. 27 when a pair of kayaks loaded with fishing gear became flooded and capsized in rough waters after launching from Park Avenue Beach around 5 p.m., authorities said. Neither man was wearing a life jacket.

His friend, a 20-year-old Glencoe man, was able to swim to shore in Lake Forest, where he began knocking on doors and shouting until authorities were alerted around 10:30 p.m., prompting a multi-agency search that extended hundreds of square miles.

Duncan's body was found in the water Saturday morning by a passerby along the Openlands Lake Michigan shoreline near Fort Sheridan, according to a release from the Highland Park city manager's office. Police and Fire personnel responded immediately and removed him from the water. The following day, Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper positively identified the remains.

Sebastian's father, Tony Duncan, told the Chicago Tribune the family was informed of the discovery of a body on Saturday. Sunday, officials notified the family of dental records, he said.

“The kid was so full of love and easygoing and cared so much about others,” Duncan told the Tribune, recalling Sebastian as the emotional gel of the family. He thanked the many volunteers and professionals who assisted in the search for Sebastian and everyone that offered emotional support.

Last week, Duncan said his family had spoken to his son's surviving friend, who shared what happened that night.

"In his own words, 'without Sebastian's actions that night, I wouldn't be alive today," Duncan recalled the friend saying.

Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper was scheduled to conduct an autopsy Monday, according to the Tribune.

The commodore of the North Shore Yacht Club, a sailor and sea kayak instructor, discouraged anyone from taking small recreational kayaks onto the lake, according to Pioneer Press.

“Those kind of boats do not belong on Lake Michigan at all, even under calm conditions,” she told the Highland Park News, warning the look of the water can be deceiving and on the night of Duncan's disappearance, the National Weather Service issued a small craft advisory due to high winds and rough waters.

Earlier:

• Search For Missing Kayaker Continues Along North Shore
• Missing Kayaker's Family Asks Public To Assist With Search