Father and Daughter Pulled into Ocean, Father Found Dead in Big Sur

BIG SUR, California — A 39-year-old father drowned while trying to save his 7-year-old daughter, who was swept into the ocean by a large wave on Friday. The tragedy occurred at Garrapata State Beach, located along Highway 1, just north of Rocky Point Restaurant. Authorities reported that a wave estimated to be between 15 to 20 feet high struck shortly before 1 p.m.

The father, Yuji Hu, from Calgary, Alberta, entered the turbulent waters to rescue his daughter after she was pulled away by the surf. The child’s mother also attempted to reach them, but managed to return to the shore.

Rescue efforts commenced rapidly, with beachgoers and off-duty State Parks officers aiding in the recovery. Hu was pulled to safety and received CPR. However, he was pronounced dead later at a local hospital.

A diver located the girl’s body about 100 yards offshore on Sunday afternoon, roughly half a mile from her last known location. Initial reports stated the girl was 5 years old, but officials confirmed her age to be 7 after consulting with family.

The mother was hospitalized for mild hypothermia but was in stable condition. Fortunately, the couple’s 2-year-old child remained unharmed during the incident.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office noted that the massive waves were a result of high winds from a nearby weather system. A large-scale search operation involving multiple agencies had initially commenced to find the girl but was suspended Saturday evening.

Authorities urged caution, as the National Weather Service had issued warnings for sneaker waves that pose unexpected dangers to beachgoers.