The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a man and his 7-year old daughter died at Garrapata State Beach Nov. 14 after being swept out to sea by huge surf.
Deputies responded to reports of a water rescue at Garrapata State Beach, located along Highway 1 just north of the Rocky Point Restaurant.
They learned that 39-year-old Yuji Hu, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, entered the water in an attempt to save his daughter after a 15- to 20-foot wave pulled her from the shoreline. As Hu reached for her, both were carried farther out to sea, the Sheriff’s Office said. The child’s mother entered the water to assist but was also overtaken by the surf. She was able to return to shore where she and her 2-year-old child were safe.
A beachgoer and an off-duty California State Parks officer were able to bring Hu back to shore and initiated CPR. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The child’s mother was treated for hypothermia and released.
A large-scale search operation then got underway by the Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, CAL FIRE, the U.S. Coast Guard, Monterey County Search and Rescue, California State Parks rescue divers and helicopter support by the California Highway Patrol.
On Nov.15, a diver found the body of the 7-year-old 100 yards offshore and about half a mile north of the child’s last known location.
