A tragic incident in California has claimed the lives of a man from Calgary and his seven-year-old daughter after they were swept away by a powerful wave into the Pacific Ocean.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Yuji Hu, 39, was at the beach with his wife and two children last Friday when a massive wave measuring approximately six meters tall engulfed his daughter, pulling her into the ocean.
In a desperate attempt to rescue their daughter, Hu and his wife were also dragged into the water by the force of the wave.
An alert beachgoer and an off-duty California park officer sprang into action, managing to pull Hu out of the ocean. They administered first aid to him while his wife managed to make her way back to the beach on her own.
In a statement released on Facebook, the sheriff’s office confirmed that the girl’s body was found by a diver on Sunday. Initially believed to be five years old, the family later clarified that she was seven.
“The family has conveyed their appreciation to all the agencies, individuals, and members of the community who participated in the search and recovery operations. They have requested privacy and declined further comments at this time,” the statement read.
Authorities revealed that the couple’s two-year-old child was unharmed, and the woman was treated for mild hypothermia.
The sheriff’s office explained that they delayed the announcement of finding the girl’s body until her family could be informed. The diver located her remains about 100 meters from the shore and nearly a kilometer north of her last known position.
Following an extensive search effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard, California’s fire service, divers, and a helicopter, the operation has been called off after failing to locate the girl.
Described as a state park with two beach areas and a 15-meter cliff overlooking the Monterey coast, Garrapata State Beach is a popular destination in California, as indicated on a state government website.