Female Marine veteran couldn’t contain excitement hours before drowning with pet in freak rafting accident, friend says

A FEMALE Marine veteran and her dog tragically drowned in a freak rafting accident while on a trip with a group of friends.

Mary Marshall, 63, had posed for an image with her German Shepherd just before they embarked on the journey that her pals said she was excited about.

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Marshall had visited the Kings River in Reedley, California , around 20 miles southeast of Fresno, each year, but this trip ended in catastrophe.

The retired marine, who was from Menifee, around 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles , shared a raft with her dog Suki on Saturday on the fast-flowing river.

This group of a dozen friends was participating in a float downstream.

Before the group set off, Marshall was pictured posing in the raft with Suki, and she gave a large smile to the camera.

Marshall had tied her raft to another one and put Suki on her leash which had been tethered to a harness she was wearing, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office .

The police confirmed that neither Marshall nor her dog were wearing life jackets.

Disaster struck when the rafts got stuck after they veered into a tree.

“The dog jumped off the raft, causing it to flip over, sending Marshall into the water,” the police said.

“Even more troublesome was her body was still attached to the dog by the leash.”

This leash was stuck around an underwater branch, which kept Marshall and her dog underwater.

The pair had become stuck in turbulent water that flowed against their bodies, making it difficult to escape, according to cops.

Cops received an emergency call around 3:30 pm and found their bodies after a two-hour search.

Marshall’s friend Kevin Horn remembered her and shared the message she told them earlier that day, according to the MailOnline .

“Mary was always the heart and soul of these trips, taking charge like the Marine she was,” he said.

“That morning, her excitement was contagious as she kept saying to everyone, “We’re going to have so much fun.”

“Mary’s love for these trips was matched only by the love she had for all of us.”

Mary was always the heart and soul of these trips, taking charge like the Marine she was.”

Kevin Horn Marshall's friend

Horn also remembered her for her past role in the Marines and how that impacted her personality.

“Mary was a Marine, a fierce protector, and a loving friend. Her loss is immeasurable, but we will carry her spirit with us always,” he added.

According to Marine Corps University, women make up just 5.1% of the active duty members enlisted in the Marine Corps today .

Her other friends also shared emotional tributes.

“I am so sad, I love Mary and every time I’ll see her she was a joy to be with even though we always fight for left over food to take home,” one person said.

OFFICIAL WARNING

The local sheriff’s office put out a message and advice to others on avoiding an accident like this.

People were warned not to tie their rafts and tubes together.

“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,” the office wrote.

Additional safety tips were shared, including wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket and advising non-experienced swimmers to stay out of water.

ABC 30