Woman Who Drowned In Kayaking Accident Identified In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The identity of the woman who died while kayaking with her boyfriend in Tomales Bay was announced Wednesday, officials said.

The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office has identified Brigitte Manspeaker as the woman who died following a kayaking accident in Tomales Bay last month.

Officials had previously confirmed that the two people involved in the fatal kayak capsizing in Tomales Bay were a couple in their 30s.

The Sonoma County Sheriff Office had reported that a man was injured and his girlfriend died when their kayak capsized in Tomales Bay near Mendoza Beach shortly after 6 p.m. March 21.

"The victim told the flight officer that his girlfriend had slipped out of her personal flotation device and had drowned," police said.

Marin County Fire PIO Mari Ochoa told Patch on March 23 that the incident was reported by a person on shore who saw two people in the water but did not witness the kayak overturn. A Sonoma County Sheriff helicopter arrived in about 12 minutes.

"We know the waves were choppy and that the water was cold, but we don’t know what caused it to capsize. There is no way for us to know," Ochoa told Patch.

Ochoa also said there is no way to know at this time how long the couple was in the water before they were rescued.

Rescuers located one man clinging to an overturned kayak with his dog. Due to high winds and 3-foot swells, a longline rescue was necessary. The man was treated for hypothermia at a local hospital.

Police said they then found the second victim about 200 yards from the kayak, face down. She was secured by longline, brought to shore, and resuscitation efforts began. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A public concern about the dog was also addressed.

“The dog was rescued by national park rangers and then friends picked them up at the beach,” Ochoa told Patch.

Fatalities in kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding are uncommon but increasing as the pandemic has boosted their popularity. The U.S. Coast Guard reports 143 deaths across these activities in 2024, the latest year with available statistics. Of these, 124 were drownings, and 87 percent involved individuals who were not wearing a life jacket or were wearing one incorrectly.

Authorities said they are relying on the initial report time and response records to confirm details. Ochoa told Patch the agency continues to coordinate information with the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

"Marin County Fire extends its deepest condolences to the individual’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragic loss," the agency said in an earlier statement.