Officials ID Brick woman who drowned in Manasquan River

Police and rescue personal on scene Friday night at the Manasquan River Yacth Club, as
search teams headed out to find a missing kayaker in the Manasquan River.
MARK SULLIVAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

BRICK — A 49-year-old township woman now identified as Robin Hoffarth of North Riverside Drive, died after the kayak she was in capsized during a two-person late night trip Friday on the Manasquan River, said Capt. John E. Rein.

Hoffarth was one of two women, whose identities have not been released, both from North Riverside Drive, that went kayaking on the Manasquan River and capsized as was reported to police about 10:50 p.m. Friday, Rein said.

The 45-year-old second passenger and in the overturned kayak and neighbor of the drowning victim, was able to swim to shore where her husband notified police.

The survivor of the kayak told police they went kayaking earlier in the evening when it was still light out. For unknown reasons at this time, during the return home, the kayak capsized, Rein said.

Search teams including divers from the Brick Township Underwater Recovery Unit. They were assisted by Brielle, Manasquan and Squankum Dive Teams along with Herbertsville, Laurelton and Pioneer Hose fire companies, State Police Marine unit and helicopter and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Emergency responders were told that Hoffarth was missing from the overturned kayak and had been in the water about 10 minutes about 10:50 p.m., Rein said.

The kayak was found at 11:23 p.m. by fire department personnel about 200 yards offshore with no one around it.

Divers from Brick Township Underwater recovery entered the water at midnight found the woman about 40 minutes later near the Manasquan River Yacht Club, Rein said.

The Ocean County Prosecutors Office and Medical Examiner’s Office also responded to the scene.

The New Jersey State Police Marine Bureau is leading the investigation into the drowning.