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A father has died and his five-year-old daughter remains missing after a family of three was swept into the Pacific Ocean by powerful waves at Garrapata State Park in Monterey County on Friday.
The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. along the Big Sur coastline, an area known for its dangerous surf conditions. According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, the young girl was first pulled into the water by waves estimated to be 15 to 20 feet high. In a desperate rescue attempt, her father entered the ocean to save her, and the girl’s mother also went into the water. A tragic family outing at Garrapata Beach shows how quickly conditions can change on the coast.
An off-duty law enforcement officer who witnessed the family in distress alerted authorities, prompting a large-scale emergency response. The mother was able to make it out of the water and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Rescuers pulled the father from the ocean, but he was unresponsive. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A multi-agency search operation was launched immediately for the missing girl, involving the U.S. Coast Guard, California State Parks rangers, Cal Fire, and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Search efforts included helicopter units, drones, and ground crews scouring the coastline. The search continued through Friday evening and resumed Saturday morning.
Authorities have released a description of the missing child, noting she was last seen wearing a red shirt. Officials urge the public to exercise extreme caution near the ocean, as high surf advisories are common and waves can be unpredictable and deadly. The father died after attempting to save his daughter in what officials are calling a heroic but tragic act.
