Investigators in California reported the tragic deaths of a man and his seven-year-old daughter from Calgary after they were swept into the Pacific Ocean. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that 39-year-old Yuji Hu, accompanied by his wife and two children, faced a devastating incident last Friday when a wave of about six meters tall engulfed his daughter into the ocean. In a valiant attempt to save her, Hu and his wife were also pulled into the water.
Prompt response from a beach visitor and an off-duty California park officer led to the rescue of Hu from the ocean, where resuscitation efforts were made while his wife managed to reach the beach unaided. Tragically, the girl’s body was discovered by a diver on Sunday. Initially believed to be five years old, it was later clarified by the family that she was seven.
A statement released on Facebook by the sheriff’s office conveyed the family’s gratitude towards all involved agencies, personnel, and community members for their extensive search and recovery operations. The family requested privacy and declined further comments at this time. The two-year-old child of the couple emerged unharmed, while the adult woman received treatment for mild hypothermia.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office exercised caution in announcing the discovery of the girl’s body, ensuring that the family was informed first. The diver located the body approximately 100 meters from the shore and nearly a kilometer north of her last known position.
Following a large-scale search operation with the U.S. Coast Guard, California’s fire service, divers, and a helicopter, the search for the girl has been halted. Garrapata State Beach, as described on a California government website, is a state park featuring two beach fronts and a 15-meter cliff overlooking the Monterey coast.
