A California father was found dead days after he disappeared in Tomales Bay while on a fishing trip with friends.
The discovery, made Wednesday by several divers involved in the search, comes nearly a week after 39-year-old Clinton Yoshio Koga disappeared in waters about 30 miles north of San Francisco.
Koga, an avid kayaker who hails from the Bay Area, had been crabbing last Friday when he disappeared, and at one point during the outing he braved the bay alone to recover a cage the group had left behind.
Within minutes, police said, members of the group realized he was missing and his kayak was no longer visible from shore.
On Wednesday, volunteer aquatic search group California Recovery Divers discovered the remains of the kayaker about 100 yards from that shore, searchers said in an update on the group’s Facebook page.
The discovery, made on Wednesday, comes nearly a week after the disappearance of 39-year-old Clinton Yoshio Koga, seen here with his daughter Kailey – who on Saturday thanked searchers for “following my father.” brought home”.
Police added that prior to the breakthrough, the divers had only been helping with the search since Wednesday morning, meaning Koga’s body was found hours after she was involved
“I’m honored to be able to recover Clinton Koga from Tomales Bay yesterday,” the post said, noting that the recovery effort was “difficult work” as currents can currently be seen off the coast of Lawson’s Landing — where the group originally set out.
Police added that prior to the breakthrough, the divers had only been helping with the search since Wednesday morning, meaning Koga’s body was found just hours after her involvement.
“Thank you to our volunteers who brought Clinton home,” the update, written Thursday morning, continued.
Marin County sheriffs added that the group found Koga’s body around 4:15 p.m. “about 100 yards from the shore at Lawson’s Landing.”
On Wednesday, volunteer search group California Recovery Divers said they discovered the kayaker’s remains 100 yards from this campground 30 miles north of San Francisco
A cause of death for Koga — an avid kayaker who lived in nearby Brentwood — was not given
The body was then brought ashore and analyzed by paramedics at the landing’s campsite, who quickly realized the victim was dead.
A cause of death for Koga – a father of at least one who lived in nearby Brentwood – was not immediately disclosed.
The discovery came days after a U.S. Coast Guard theorized that Koga may have seen his kayak capsized by high winds in the bay on the day of his disappearance and in the days that followed.
“It’s mostly a sheltered bay,” U.S. Coast Guard corporal Kolton Krag said Thursday in a phone interview with SFGATE of the small bay where Koga disappeared. “I know it was windy that day.”
Strong “currents” led by divers who found his body support this theory, as they could result in Koga being dragged underwater if his kayak had actually overturned – a fairly common occurrence in single-person canoes.
Cops said a forensic examination of Koga’s body was conducted by coroners on Friday, but the cause and manner of death will not be released until Marin County sheriffs complete their investigation, which is ongoing.
As news of the victim’s death spread on social media on Thursday, those who knew him – including several friends and his grieving daughter – took to social media to share their shock.
“They say everything in life changes except taxes and the fact that at a certain point, depending on how you live your life, your friends will die a lot sooner than they should,” Spencer Lautenschlager said.
“They also say the good guys die young and today I just wish they were wrong, Clinton Koga was one of the best guys you could meet, always gave the best vibes,” Lautenschlager wrote, adding that Kogo was “been the first guy it happened to really take me in and make a new kid feel welcome when i moved to northern california.
Marin County sheriffs added that the group found Koga’s body around 4:15 p.m. “about 100 yards from the shore of Lawson’s Landing.”
Another paid a similar tribute to the avid kayaker, who can be seen in posts on his social media kayaking on flooded roads in his hometown of Brentwood when unusual amounts of rain hit the region late last year.
“Growing up, I couldn’t catch a f***ing soccer ball, but you always threw it my way,” Rudy Carranza said of the sacrifice. “I will always miss you and I will try to pick up the pieces and just move on.”
Perhaps the most touching tribute, however, came from Koga’s own daughter – who recently changed her profile photo on social media to one of her and her late father – in the post released by the divers who found his body.
The heartbreaking post, penned by Kailey Koga on Saturday, read: “Thanks for bringing my dad home.”
An official cause of death for the kayaker is set to be released in the coming days.