Basking Ridge Kite Surfer Rescued, Violates Stay-At-Home Order

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A Basking Ridge man was charged with violating new coronavirus outbreak emergency orders after he was rescued while kite surfing off Normandy Beach, according to the Office of Attorney General.

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.

On Friday rescue crews got a report of a kite surfer, later identified as Vonderlinden, in distress about 50 yards off shore and drifting north in the water, with strong winds and current, according to the OAG.

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Fire department rescue crews and another surfer reached Vonderlinden and all returned to shore safely, according to the OAG.

Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered people to stay at home, with some exceptions, now that the number of cases has risen to 81,420, and 4,070 people have died in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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