Dog rescued three days after deadly boat accident

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - A dog that was assumed drowned during a fatal boating accident on April 3rd was found by two Marin County firefighters on a rocky beach Thursday. 

Brian Phidat Ho, a 47-year-old San Jose resident, died when his 13-foot Boston whaler capsized in rough surf at the mouth of Tomales Bay in northern Marin County.

Two dogs and another man also were in the boat when it was capsized by waves; the second man and one of the dogs were recovered shortly after the incident by Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office personnel.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Marin County Fire Battalion Chiefs Chris Martinelli and Graham Groneman were riding on rescue watercraft just offshore, scouting locations during a water rescue orientation for firefighters.

They were about a quarter mile north of Dillon Beach when they spotted a pale yellow object on the beach.

“They were hugging the coastline when they saw the dog hunkered down under a rocky outcropping,” said Battalion Chief Bret McTigue. “They went on shore and put a lifejacket on him. He was wet and shivering after a few days out in the elements.”

The dog, a young yellow Labrador retriever named Yoda, matched the description of the missing dog from Monday’s capsizing.

Although Yoda displayed no apparent injuries, personnel from Marin Humane were to check him out before releasing him to a family member. McTigue said Yoda was doing well at the Tomales Fire Station, warming up by a fireplace after enjoying his fill of food and water.

“We called the family and we happened to reach them during the funeral,” McTigue said. “We gave them the update and they were able to make the announcement about the dog at the funeral, which was nice.”