(Lorain) - A search that began Tuesday night for two kayakers who never returned to where they put their kayaks in the water is over. The kayaks were found on land, likely abandoned by the people who rented them.
The U.S. Coast Guard says people who identified themselves as Nicole Launert, 27, and Mike Smith, 30, rented two kayaks from Grumpy's Bait and Tackle in Lorain about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The owner of Grumpy's called the Coast Guard when the two didn't return by 10:30 pm.
The Coast Guard searched both the Black River and adjoining portions of Lake Erie by boat and by helicopter.
The kayaks were found on land in Lorain by a news crew out to cover the story.
The Coast Guard says the names given by the man and woman did not show up on any database, meaning the names were likely fake names.