Fundraiser Started For Woman Who Drowned In Marin County Kayaking Accident

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A fundraiser has recently been started for a woman who died while kayaking with her boyfriend in Marin County.

The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office identified Brigitte Manspeaker, 37, of Los Angeles, as the woman who died after her kayak capsized with her boyfriend in Tomales Bay last month.

“It still doesn’t feel real. She was someone who lived fully and fearlessly. Brigitte would always seek out new adventures and find joy in the simple beauty of the world around her,” Barbara Ngai wrote on the GoFundMe.

Ngai said Manspeaker loved being in nature whether she was hiking, swimming in open water, or traveling,

“She would be sure to honor her surroundings and show gratitude wherever she was,” Ngai wrote.

Brigitte dedicated her life to the protection, support, and honor of Indigenous women globally, proudly serving as an advocate for the upliftment of all marginalized communities, Ngai stated.

“Brigitte was a ball of light, a source of laughter, and a constant reminder to embrace life wholeheartedly,” Ngai wrote

The organizers are requesting support — donations or page shares — to cover the unexpected memorial service costs for Manspeaker, noting all contributions are deeply appreciated during this difficult time.

“[I] appreciate every single one of you for all your kindness and all the love you show to my daughter Brigitte, even without knowing her and me,” Monique Manspeaker, Brigitte's mom, wrote on the fundraiser. “When we bring her remains back from up north, we are gonna celebrate her life so we will keep in touch. Thank you so much again for your love [and] kindness.”

Manspeaker and her boyfriend, both in their 30s, were involved in the fatal kayak capsizing in Tomales Bay near Mendoza Beach shortly after 6 p.m. March 21.

The man, who was found clinging to the overturned kayak with his dog, was treated for hypothermia. He reported his girlfriend "had slipped out of her personal flotation device and had drowned," police said.

Manspeaker was found 200 yards from the kayak, face down, and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Marin County Fire representative Mari Ochoa told Patch high winds and 3-foot swells were present, but the cause of the capsizing is unknown. The dog was rescued by national park rangers.

Fatalities in kayaking are increasing; the U.S. Coast Guard reports 143 deaths across these activities in 2024, with 87 percent involving individuals not wearing a life jacket correctly.