Body of Glenview kayaker who went missing in Lake Michigan found

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (WLS) -- The body of a 20-year-old man who went missing after his kayak capsized in Lake Michigan two weeks ago was found Sunday, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office.

A passerby found Sebastian Duncan's body along the Openlands Lake Michigan Shoreline near Fort Sheridan, according to a statement from the city of Highland Park. The Highland Park police and fire departments were called to remove the body from the water.

A forensic examination Sunday by the Lake County coroner's office positively identified him as Duncan, of north suburban Glenview. An autopsy will be performed Monday afternoon, the coroner's office said.

RELATED: Glenview man, 20, missing after kayak capsizes in Lake Michigan

Duncan and another 20-year-old man launched from Park Avenue Beach in separate kayaks around 5 p.m. on Aug. 27. Duncan's family said the other man was his close friend.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the two men encountered rough water due to high winds around 9 p.m. Both kayaks capsized and the two men held onto a paddle as a flotation device. Neither man was wearing a life jacket, authorities said.

Duncan lost hold of the paddle as they tried to swim back to shore and went under, according to the Coast Guard. The other man managed to make it to land and knocked on a door to ask for help. Highland Park police were notified around 10:40 p.m.

The Coast Guard searched for several hours until they were forced to suspend the search at about 1:35 a.m. The Coast Guard, with assistance from Highland Park and Lake Forest fire and police personnel, resumed searching Tuesday morning after being delayed by poor weather conditions.

The Coast Guard searched an area equivalent to more than 130 square-miles by air and on water, from as far north as Waukegan and south to Wilmette Harbor. Members of the North Shore Yacht Club also assisted with the search.

Duncan's family released a statement on Aug. 31, before his body was found, saying that they were beyond devastated, but still hopeful that their "brave and extraordinary young man" would be found. They thanked the rescue teams' continued efforts to locate him and spoke with his close friend, who said, "without Sebastian's action that night, I wouldn't be alive today."

Duncan attended Northeastern Illinois University from summer 2016 until spring of last year, according to Michael Hines, a spokesman for the school.

Authorities are expected to release further details late Monday or early Tuesday.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.