OLD SAYBROOK -- The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search a missing 18-year-old after an empty kayak washed ashore in Old Saybrook, near the area where the river empties into the Long Island Sound.
“After working with our port partners to search extensively throughout the night and today, we’ve made the difficult decision to suspend the search,” said Cmdr. Andrew Ely, chief of response, Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. “The decision to suspend is never made lightly, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of William Zadrozny.”
A passerby stumbled across an empty, overturned single-seat kayak near the mouth of the Connecticut River, between the break walls. A life jacket and fishing gear were all left on-board and seemingly abandoned.
Coast Guard officials later learned Zadronzy, was missing. A staging area was quickly established near the state boat launch at 220 Ferry Road in Old Saybrook, underneath the Baldwin Bridge, as dive teams began surveying the waters in the area.
Zadronzy is reported to have been wearing work boots, a grey and yellow jacket and jeans.
