A 46-year-old man has vanished after his overturned kayak was found in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.

Eiffel Gilyana, who was a fitness instructor and married father-of-three was out kayaking with the Jax Fire Dragons boat team near the St. Augustine Inlet around  10am December 23 when his fellow boaters lost sight of him during ‘rough conditions.’

A search was quickly mounted by the U.S. Coast Guard, but only his overturned kayak was found. It had been broken in two.

The Coast Guard continued looking for Gilyana throughout Christmas Eve with further crews and partner agencies joining the search Sunday morning. 

Eiffel Gilyana, 46, fitness instructor and dad-of-three has been reported missing after his kayak overturned in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida

Gilyana was kayaking with two others near the St. Augustine Inlet around 10 am on December 23 when he vanished

Gilyana’s overturned kayak was found. It had been split in two

After 48 hours of searching, by Christmas Day, the search was called off. 

He was last seen wearing black pants but was not wearing a life jacket or shirt.

Gilyana was originally from Erbil in Iraq and served with the U.S. military from 2003 to 2009 as a translator.

He immigrated to Jacksonville to escape ISIS threats and became a wellness instructor, where he would also perform remarkable acts of endurance. 

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Recently, he paddled his Kayak on a 150-mile journey from Miami to Key West.

‘Eiffel Gilyana (40s) is missing off of Vilano Beach,’ a Facebook post by his boating team read.

A 48-hour search was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard conducted a search throughout the night in the hopes of finding the kayaker

A comprehensive search took place in the waters where Gilyana had been kayaking 

Gilyana was originally from Erbil in Iraq and served with the U.S. military from 2003 to 2009 as a translator

Gilyana performed remarkable acts of endurance and recently paddled his Kayak on a 150-mile journey from Miami to Key West

‘He went paddling with 2 other individuals but they lost sight of him. They found his ama, iakus and boat (broken in half) but no signs of Eiffel. We need more boats on the water to aid in the search. He’s been missing since 10am. He went in by the pavilion in Vilano Beach, Atlantic Ocean side.’ 

The Coast Guard also posted a message of condolence: 

‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this tragic event,’ said Cmdr. Nick Barrow, search and rescue coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville. 

‘This was an intensive search with the hope of finding Mr. Gilyana. I want to thank our partners from the city of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida Fish and Wildlife and Customs and Border Protection for their contributions to this unified effort.’