The man’s body found in Barnegat Bay has been identified as the coast guardsman who fell off a boat Saturday evening.
Sgt. Brian Polite, a State Police spokesman, said Nicholas Holmes’ death was ruled accidental, and an autopsy determined that the cause of death was asphyxia.
Holmes, 25, of the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey Township, fell off a 23-foot power boat Saturday evening along with another man when the boat hit a wake, police said. The other man surfaced and was pulled from the water, but Holmes did not surface. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Holmes was an active-duty Coast Guard member based at the air station in Egg Harbor Township, Coast Guard officials said.
Contact Donna Weaver:
609-226-9198
