Investigators in California have reported that a man from Calgary and his seven-year-old daughter tragically lost their lives after being swept into the Pacific Ocean. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that Yuji Hu, 39, was at the beach with his wife and two children last Friday when a powerful wave carried his daughter into the ocean.
As Hu and his wife attempted to rescue their daughter, they 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 performed resuscitation efforts, while his wife was able to make it back to the beach unaided.
A statement released by the sheriff’s office on Facebook mentioned that the girl’s body was discovered by a diver on Sunday. Initially thought to be five years old, the family later clarified that she was seven. The family expressed gratitude to all involved in the search and recovery operations and have requested privacy at this time.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the couple’s two-year-old child was unharmed, and the woman was treated for mild hypothermia. The search for the girl’s body, which involved a collaborative effort with the U.S. Coast Guard, California’s fire service, divers, and a helicopter, was suspended after her body was found.
Garrapata State Beach, as described on a California government website, features two beachfronts and a 15-meter cliff overlooking the Monterey coast.
