Tragedy Strikes at Garrapata State Beach
A family outing turned to tragedy on the California coast when a father lost his life attempting to save his young daughter from treacherous ocean conditions. Yuji Hu, 39, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, died on Friday after being pulled into the sea by powerful waves while trying to rescue his five-year-old child.
Desperate Rescue Attempt
The incident occurred around 1pm local time at Garrapata State Beach, located along Highway 1 north of the Rocky Point Restaurant in Monterey. According to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, the five-year-old girl was first swept from the shoreline by waves reaching up to 20 feet high.
As Mr Hu reached for his daughter, he too was dragged into the ocean. Witnessing her family in peril, Hu's wife entered the water in a desperate rescue attempt but also found herself caught in the dangerous current. She managed to return to shore, while their two-year-old child remained on the beach unharmed.
Large-Scale Search Operation
An off-duty California State Parks officer and a beach visitor rescued Hu from the water. He and his wife were rushed to a local hospital, where Hu was pronounced dead. His wife was treated for mild hypothermia but remained in stable condition.
The five-year-old girl, last seen wearing a white shirt, remains missing. Authorities immediately launched a large-scale search operation involving multiple agencies including the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, California State Parks, CAL FIRE, and the county's Search and Rescue team.
A US Coast Guard helicopter joined the intensive search, which continued through sunset on Saturday. The operation was temporarily suspended overnight due to inclement weather and poor lighting conditions. California State Parks officers planned to continue searching on foot through Sunday.
The family has requested privacy and does not wish to issue any public statement regarding the tragic incident. The circumstances surrounding their visit to northern California from Canada remain unclear.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by coastal conditions, particularly during periods of severe weather. The southern part of California is currently experiencing an unusually strong storm system, bringing heightened risks to coastal areas.
