Fatal freak accident unfolded hours after female Marine veteran, 63, posed for this photo with her beloved dog

A retired Marine and her dog drowned in a freak rafting accident on a fast-flowing river they travel every year.

Mary Marshall, 63, was rafting on the Kings River in Reedley, California, with about a dozen friends and her German shepherd named Suki on Saturday.

The former sergeant posed for a cheerful photo with Suki on the raft before the group set off, smiling broadly with excitement about the annual trip.

After the group’s lunch stop, disaster struck when the raft hit a protruding tree in the river due to the current and became stuck.

Marshall was rafting with a dozen friends on the Kings River in Reedley, California

Marshall, of Menifee, California, had tied her raft to another raft and attached Suki’s line to a harness she was wearing, but not to a life jacket.

Suki jumped off the raft when it got stuck against the tree, throwing the raft off balance and causing it to tip over, sending Marshall into the water – pulling the dog down with him.

“Both became trapped in a sieve, which is a turbulent flow of water against an object that is difficult to escape from,” the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office explained.

“The leash became wrapped around a tree branch underwater, trapping Marshall and her dog under water.”

Marshall’s friends panicked and called for help around 3:30 p.m. Officers searched for two hours before finding their bodies around 6:30 p.m.

Suki was still attached to her beloved owner and police had to cut the leash to get them both out.

After the group’s lunch stop, disaster struck when the current changed course

Marshall was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, pictured here with a comrade during her active service

“There are a lot of trees in the water, they’re called an ‘undercut,’ where you can get stuck and we believe that’s what happened,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Tellus.

“The water pushes you where it wants to push you, it just pushes her down.”

Marshall’s friend Kevin Horn, who was also on the river that day, said the group had made the trip every year for nearly 20 years and she often led the way.

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

‘That morning her enthusiasm was infectious as she kept telling everyone, “We’re going to have so much fun.”‘

‘Mary’s love for these journeys was matched only by the love she felt for all of us.

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

Friends said the group made the trip every year for nearly 20 years and she often led the group

Officers searched for two hours before finding their bodies around 6:30 p.m.

Other friends paid tribute to Marshall and shared their memories of her on the river and on dry land.

“I am so sad, I love Mary and every time I see her it is a joy to be with her even though we always fight over what food we have left to take home,” one person wrote.

Another added: ‘She was surrounded by people she loved doing what she loved most.

“I remember her cutting her hand on a boat ride and wrapping it up in duct tape. That weekend she got the nickname ‘Mary MacGyver.'”

Police are warning anyone floating on the river to stay in the center of the river, avoid trees and never tie rafts together.

“This creates a dangerous situation because if one rafter gets into trouble, all the others will be affected as well, as they have no independent control over their rafts,” the researchers said.

They also suggested that dogs joining the fleet be provided with life jackets.