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Tributes are pouring in for the man who is presumed to have drowned in Osoyoos Lake while saving his dog on Monday night.
Friends have identified the man through social media as 41-year-old Tom Dennehy, a prominent member of the local racing community.
Perry Grago wrote that when Dennehy moved to Oliver, the pair would go to Highway 97 Brewing for drinks because it was a spot that Dennehy could bring his dogs.
Grago, a driver at Area 27 in Oliver, said that Dennehy would always check in when he stopped by the race track and did so with a “contagious smile.”
“Tom was an absolute gem and one of a kind,” he added.
Others shared fond memories of Dennehy’s involvement in the racing community and enjoying other adrenaline sports alongside him.
“I will never forget riding mini motos in the freezing cold as the dogs ran after us, or grabbing pizza after a long dirt bike ride in Squamish, or your first race, or the many great days at Chuckwalla and Thunderhill,” wrote Shane Austin.
Dennehy and a friend were stationary in a surfboat in the middle of Osoyoos Lake when the tragic incident happened Monday night.
The 41-year-old was playing fetch with his dogs off the boat, but one of the dogs started to appear distressed and Dennehy jumped in to help it.
Unfortunately, they became separated from the boat due to the wind and his friend saw the dog climb onto Dennehy’s back, weighing him down.
“Tragically it appears the man lost his life, saving that of his dogs,” explained Sgt. Jason Bayda with the Osoyoos RCMP.
The RCMP underwater recovery team is expected to arrive in Osoyoos early next week to continue the search for Dennehy, which is now considered a recovery mission.
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