Investigators in California have confirmed the tragic deaths of a man from Calgary and his seven-year-old daughter after they were swept into the Pacific Ocean. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred when 39-year-old Yuji Hu, together with his wife and two children, encountered a powerful wave that carried his daughter into the ocean.
In an attempt to rescue their daughter, Hu and his wife were also pulled into the water. Fortunately, a beach visitor and an off-duty California park officer managed to pull Hu out of the ocean and administer resuscitation efforts, while his wife was able to return to the beach on her own.
Following an extensive search operation, the girl’s body was located by a diver on Sunday. Originally thought to be five years old, it was later clarified that she was seven. The family has expressed gratitude to all involved in the search and recovery efforts and has requested privacy during this difficult time.
Authorities confirmed that the couple’s two-year-old child was unharmed, and the wife received treatment for mild hypothermia. The search effort, which involved multiple agencies and personnel, was temporarily halted after the discovery of the girl’s body.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office delayed the announcement of finding the girl’s body until her family was informed. The body was found approximately 100 meters from the shore and nearly one kilometer north of her last known location.
Garrapata State Beach, as described on a California government website, is a state park featuring two beach fronts and a cliff that offers a scenic view of the Monterey coast.
