Kite Surfer Charged With Breaking Coronavirus Order In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A North Jersey man who had to be rescued while he was kite surfing on Friday off Normandy Beach is facing charges of violating state emergency orders issued to slow the outbreak of the new coronavirus, the state attorney general's office said.

Geoffrey T. Vonderlinden, 51, of Basking Ridge was charged by New Jersey State Police on Friday after police and rescue crews were called out to the closed Normandy Beach in Toms River. The beach was closed in late March in an effort to get people to comply with social distancing and slow the outbreak in Ocean County.

Gov. Phil Murphy also has repeatedly urged residents to stay at their primary homes, rather than going to the shore, to avoid adding stress to the health care systems in Shore communities.

Don't miss local and New Jersey announcements about coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

On Friday rescue crews got a report of a kite surfer, later identified as Vonderlinden, in distress about 50 yards offshore and drifting north in the water, with strong winds and current, the attorney general's office said.

Fire department rescue crews and another surfer reached Vonderlinden and all returned to shore safely, officials said.

The stay-at-home order was issued March 21 in efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The number of people who have tested positive has risen to 85,301 as of Sunday, and 4,202 people have died in New Jersey. Murphy over the weekend said the state was continuing to show progress on having flattened the curve. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.