John Pereira, 29, Of Old Bridge, Drowned While Kayaking In NJ Lake

JACKSON, NJ — It was a 29-year-old Old Bridge man who died when his kayak capsized this weekend in a lake near Six Flags Great Adventure.

On Monday afternoon, the Ocean County Prosecutor released the identity of the young man: John Pereira, 29, of Old Bridge, whose body was found shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday.

Police say he and a group of others took a kayak out Saturday. Prospertown Lake is an 80-acre man-made lake that is stocked by the state with fish; it is popular for kayaking and fishing. It butts up against the property of Six Flags Great Adventure.

At 2:25 p.m. Saturday, Jackson Township Police received a 911 call reporting the kayak had overturned and one of its occupants was unaccounted for in the murky lake water. The lake is 14 feet deep at maximum depth.

Witnesses told investigators that Pereira was not wearing a life jacket.

Numerous law enforcement and emergency units responded, as did NJ Fish & Game, and divers went into the lake. The search was suspended Saturday evening due to storms and loss of daylight, and resumed at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Pereira's body was found just before 4 p.m. Sunday.

The Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office is currently doing an autopsy to determine the man's exact cause of death, but it is currently believed to be drowning.