Menifee Woman And Her Dog Drown In Central California's Kings River

CALIFORNIA — Former U.S. Marine Mary Marshall, 63, of Menifee was floating down Kings River in Fresno County over the weekend. She was with dozens of friends who brought rafts for their annual float.

Marshall had her large German shepherd with her. The canine was tethered to its owner via a leash, but neither was wearing a life jacket, according to a report from the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

At about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 17, the raft carrying Marshall and her dog got into trouble on the river near S. Rio Vista and E. Vino Avenues in Reedley, the sheriff's office said. Marshall's raft was tied to another raft when both vessels veered into a tree along the river and got stuck.

Amid the commotion, the German shepherd jumped off Marshall's raft, causing it to flip over.

With Marshall and the dog still attached by the leash, both were out of the raft and got caught in turbulent water. The leash became wrapped around an underwater tree, causing Marshall and her dog to become submerged, the sheriff's office reported.

The two never resurfaced.

Fresno County deputies with the agency's Boating Enforcement Unit searched for the pair for more than two hours before finding them tangled underwater. The dog's leash was cut, which allowed rescuers to recover the bodies, according to the sheriff's office.

The law enforcement agency issued a warning for those who want to enjoy the Kings River via raft.

Never tie the rafts, tubes, or other vessels together, the agency said.

"This creates a dangerous situation because if one floater experiences a problem, all others will as well because they do not have independent control of their rafts," according to the sheriff's office.

Additional safety measures offered by the sheriff's office include:

1) Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Make sure it is secured and fits the person properly. Consider putting a pet life jacket on dogs as well.

2) Stay out of the water if you are not an experienced swimmer.

3) Parents should watch their children at all times.

4) Do not mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol causes swimmers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dangerous situations.

5) Understand that when it’s hot outside, you will get tired faster than usual.

6) Respect the water. The temperature of the water remains cold and the current is often stronger than it appears. There can be debris in the water, which is difficult to see and may cause hazardous situations for swimmers.

7) Be careful of the mud on the bottom of lakes and rivers; it’s easy to sink in some spots and get your feet stuck. Also, use your feet to feel for drop-off spots. River and lake bottoms can dramatically change from shallow to deep in a short distance.