The best friend of the woman who was found dead near Big Sur in suspicious circumstances has issued a moving tribute following her shock death.

Garrett Mail said Joanna Ruth Shields helped form “who I am today” after she was identified as the woman found with markings around her neck on a Monterey County trail last week.

Shields, 37, was found naked in a pool of water with a gash on her head on Pine Ridge Trail near Sykes Hot Springs on Friday.

Cops are treating her death as suspicious and launched an investigation, but said they are waiting for a toxicology report.

Mail wrote on Facebook: “I honestly don’t have words for how devastating this is to me. Joanna literally formed who I am today as a person.

“She taught me how to be mindful, how to appreciate all forms of art, what unconditional love means, how to find positive perspective in all situations, how to be patient, when to be fierce and to never lose my sense of exploration or wonder.”

He continued: “Joanna was the person to tell me to ‘Get off the phone with me and go ask your future wife on a date!’ My life assuredly would’ve been completely different, had it not been for Joanna’s friendship.”

In his post, Mail described Shields as a deeply influential and adventurous spirit who touched countless lives.

“Through the years, Joanna and I went on tons of adventures together,” he wrote. “But for Joanna, almost anything was an adventure with the right people around.

“She could make the most inane, dull or intense situations that much better, just because she was around.”

He added that even as life took them in different directions, their bond never faded. “Every time we’d see each other, it was like we’d never missed a beat. I’d always come back more refreshed, more clear.”

Mail also revealed Shields had been planning a new chapter in her life, including launching a podcast aimed at helping others.

“Joanna was about to do something great,” he wrote. “She was about to start a podcast to discuss things that she held dear to her in an attempt to help other people… She was about to help change the world.”

Cops told The Post that a cause of death has yet to be determined, pending toxicology results, which could take between six and eight weeks.

Hikers said they came across a person on the trail who said he was Shield’s friend, who they revealed told them she had been cleaning herself in the river.

Hiker Luke Heerem told NBC: “They were out there. She went to the bathroom and was cleaning herself off in the river around 10:30. He went looking for her and then saw her face down in the water, naked.”

Another, Gabe Holmes, said: “I didn’t see any blood. She was pale. She had markings around her neck. And when the firefighter lifted the jacket, he confirmed that she had a big gash on her head.”

The hikers alerted California State Parks and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office after finding the body. Deputies, assisted by California Highway Patrol Air Operations, recovered the remains on Friday.

A GoFundMe set up for Shields’ family has raised nearly $13,000 as of Thursday morning toward an $18,000 goal to help cover funeral expenses and travel costs.

“Joanna’s family is now facing the unimaginable task of saying goodbye and making arrangements during this incredibly difficult time,” the fundraiser states.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Your donation and words of comfort mean more than we can say as we grieve and make arrangements for our sweet Joanna.”

Authorities have not yet announced any arrests as the investigation into her death remains ongoing.

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