Boyfriend Survives Kayak Capsizing That Killed Girlfriend; Dog Rescued From Water In Bay Area: Police

MARIN COUNTY, CA — New details have emerged regarding the fatal kayak capsizing in Tomales Bay, with officials confirming on Monday that the two individuals involved were a couple in their 30s.

A man was injured, and a woman identified as his girlfriend, died after their kayak overturned in Tomales Bay near Mendoza Beach just after 6 p.m. Saturday's, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff Office.

"The victim told the flight officer that his girlfriend had slipped out of her personal flotation device and had drowned," police said.

Marin County Fire public information officer Mari Ochoa provided further information to Patch on Monday regarding the incident and the response efforts.

According to Ochoa, a person on shore reported the incident after seeing two people in the water, but they did not witness the kayak overturn. A Sonoma County Sheriff helicopter, Henry-1, arrived on the scene within approximately 12 minutes of the initial call.

"We know the waves were choppy and that the water was cold, but we don’t know what caused it to capsize. There is no way for us to know," Ochoa told Patch. Ochoa said there is no way to know at this time how long the couple was in the water before they were rescued.

Rescuers in Henry-1 quickly located the man clinging to an overturned kayak, along with their dog, police said. Given the high winds and resulting 3-foot swells in the bay, a rescue using a 100-foot longline was necessary, police said. The man, treated for hypothermia, was transported to a local hospital.

After a brief search, police said they found the second victim around 200 yards from the kayak, face down and being swept out by the tide. She was secured by longline and brought to shore. First responders said they immediately initiated resuscitation efforts, which were then taken over by Marin County Fire Department paramedics upon their arrival.

The woman was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Ochoa also addressed a public concern about a dog that was with the couple in the kayak.

“The dog was rescued by national park rangers and then friends picked them up at the beach,” Ochoa told Patch.

Kayaking deaths are rare but on the rise because more people have taken up the activity since the start of the pandemic. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, there were 143 fatalities involving kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards in 2024, the most recent year for which data is available. Of those fatalities, 124 were classified as drownings, and 87 percent of those involved people not wearing or improperly wearing life jackets.

Authorities said they are relying on the initial report time and response records to confirm details. Ochoa said the agency continues to coordinate information with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

"Marin County Fire extends its deepest condolences to the individual’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragic loss," the agency said in an earlier statement.

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