Family identifies missing kayaker, Eiffel Gilyana

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla — Update 12/24: The family has identified the missing kayaker Eiffel Gilyana. He is a fitness and wellness director at the Jewish Community Alliance.

Gilyana is also a member of Task Force Hydro 1.

JCA has released a statement regarding Gilyana:

Dear JCA Community,

It is with deep regret and immense sadness that we share an update on the welfare of our JCA Fitness and Wellness Director Eiffel Gilyana.

On Saturday morning (Dec 23), Eiffel went paddling in his outrigger canoe off the coast of Vilano Beach with a group of paddlers from Task Force Hydro1. The team lost sight of Eiffel and later found his canoe damaged, but not Eiffel. The U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency officials searched for Eiffel Saturday and Sunday morning to no avail. They will continue to search for him until sunset tonight. We are in direct contact with the U.S. Coast Guard and continue to pray for answers as to Eiffel's whereabouts.

During this truly difficult time, we hold Eiffel’s family, friends, Task Force Hydro1 teammates, clients and our JCA community close in prayer.

—  Adam Chaskin CEO

According to his family, Gilyana worked with the US military in Iraq from 2003 to 2009.

Gilyana lives in St. Johns County.

The search continues for Gilyana at first light.

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Eiffel Gilyana

The United States Coast Guard has their Southeast crews out searching for a 46-year-old man last seen on a kayak in the area of the St. Augustine Inlet near the North Jetties ocean side, Saturday.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Fish and Wildlife Commission and St. Johns County Fire Rescue are also searching the Vilano area.

Around 10 a.m., reports state that he was with group of kayakers when then they noticed he wasn’t with them.

They began calling out for him for roughly the next hour but were unable to find him. The man was last seen wearing black pants with no life jacket or shirt.

The man’s kayak was found flipped over and washed up on shore.

Currently, the Coast Guard has 45-foot response boat with a crew searching, along with a helicopter from Clearwater searching by air.

Anyone with info, call: 904-714-7561

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