Union County Man Dies While Fishing At Sandy Hook

HIGHLANDS, NJ — The fisherman who drowned off Sandy Hook Wednesday got sucked into the surf trying to retrieve his fishing gear, a parks spokeswoman confirmed. He has been identified as Ronald Moore, 69, of Union.

Moore was fishing in the surf at the Sandy Hook fishing beach before 8 a.m. Wednesday when his gear got carried out in a wave. He tried to retrieve it and that's when he, too, got pulled out into the rough surf. The currents around Sandy Hook, a peninsula, can be very strong.

Another fisherman saw the man getting pulled out into the icy ocean water and called 911. Rangers with the National Park Service responded, as did Middletown police and Sea Bright Fire Rescue. When they got there, Moore was in waist-deep water and he was pulled from the water by park rangers, and Sea Bright personnel performed CPR. Past Patch reporting: Fisherman Rescued Off Sandy Hook Dies

The man was rushed to Monmouth Medical Center in West Long Branch in extremely serious condition, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:56 a.m. Wednesday. The investigation by police showed that the drowning was accidental. Police ask if anyone has additional information, to please call the Middletown Twp. Police Detective Bureau at (732) 615-2120.

A 12-year-old Elizabeth girl drowned at Sandy Hook this summer; she had been swimming at the beach all day with her family when a strong undertow carried her out.

Related: Identity Of Girl Released In Sandy Hook Drowning