Ryan Borgwardt Missing – The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office is intensifying its search efforts for a missing kayaker, a 44-year-old man from Watertown, who was reported missing by his family on Monday morning.
The man failed to return home from a kayaking trip, prompting an urgent search by local authorities.
Sheriff Mark Podoll of Green Lake County has confirmed that the search team has deployed a drone to scour the area from above, while boats are being used to conduct a grid search of the lake in hopes of locating the missing kayaker.
The search efforts have been focused around Dodge Memorial Park, where an overturned kayak and a life jacket, believed to belong to the missing man, were discovered on Monday.
Despite an exhaustive search, authorities were forced to call off the search at 8:00 p.m. Monday night due to fading light. The search resumed at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, with Sheriff Podoll emphasizing the urgency and importance of the ongoing efforts.
At this time, authorities have not released further details about the identity of the missing kayaker, out of respect for the family and ongoing investigative protocols.
Sheriff Podoll expressed concern, noting that incidents like this have occurred multiple times on the lake, particularly in the past three years. He urged everyone who enjoys water activities to take proper safety precautions, including wearing life jackets and being aware of weather conditions, to prevent such tragedies.
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. The community remains hopeful for a positive outcome, and anyone with information that could assist in the search is encouraged to contact local authorities immediately.