Brick Woman Dies After Kayak Overturns

The holiday weekend got off to a tragic start on the Jersey Shore after a Brick Township woman died when the kayak she was in overturned in Manasquan inlet, just hours after a man's body was found floating in Barnegat Bay off Ship Bottom

Police said a 49-year-old North Riverside Drive woman – whose name was being held pending notification of family members – was riding in a kayak with a 45-year-old woman on the Manasquan River when the vessel capsized Friday night. Brick Police were notified of the submersion at approximately 10:47 p.m. Friday, Capt. John Rein said.

The 45-year-old woman was able to swim back to shore, but the other woman was not, Rein said.

Marine units from the Brick Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard responded and began searching the area. Additionally, a New Jersey State Police helicopter responded to the area and assisted in the search.

Divers from Brick Township Underwater Recovery Unit and the Brielle, Manasquan and Squankum dive teams also were dispatched and responded. The Herbertsville, Laurelton and Pioneer Hose Fire companies were on the scene as well.

At approximately 11:23 p.m., fire department personnel located the overturned yellow kayak about 200 yards offshore with no one around it, Rein said. Divers entered the water at approximately 12:04 a.m. and, at approximately 12:41 a.m., divers from the Brick Township Underwater recovery team located the women’s body in the area of the Manasquan River Yacht Club.

Rein said that an initial investigation into the incident showed that the pair had gone out for a kayak ride while it was still light out, but experienced difficulties while returning home.

The New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau is leading the investigation into the incident. Anyone who may have any information with regard to the incident is asked to contact them. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene.

The apparent drowning occurred just hours after a boater found a man floating face down in the water off Ship Bottom near a personal watercraft. The man's identity has not yet been released.