Trendpills
A family trip to California’s scenic Big Sur coast ended in tragedy after a father and his seven-year-old daughter died when they were pulled into the ocean by a powerful wave. The incident occurred on a Friday afternoon at Garrapata State Beach in Monterey County, a location known for its beautiful but treacherous coastline.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office reported that the young girl was first pulled into the water by a wave estimated to be 15 to 20 feet high. Her father, identified as 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, Canada, immediately went into the ocean to rescue her, but both were quickly swept into the powerful Pacific currents. The girl’s mother also entered the water in an attempt to help them but managed to get back to shore on her own. A second child, aged two, was with the family on the beach and remained unharmed.
An off-duty state parks peace officer/lifeguard who was nearby pulled the father from the water and began administering CPR. Despite these efforts, Hu was pronounced dead. This prompted a large-scale multi-agency search for the missing girl, involving California State Parks, Cal Fire, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Monterey County Search and Rescue teams. On the day of the incident, the National Weather Service had issued a beach hazards warning for the area, cautioning visitors about dangerous sneaker waves.
The search concluded on Sunday afternoon when a diver located the girl's body about 100 yards offshore and approximately half a mile north of where she was last seen. According to a statement from the Sheriff's Office, the child's body was recovered, bringing the tragic event to a close. The family has since expressed their gratitude to all personnel involved in the search and recovery efforts and has requested privacy.
