The body of a 7-year-old girl swept into the Pacific during 15–20 foot surf was recovered Sunday about 100 yards offshore near Garrapata State Beach. Her father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, drowned after entering the water to try to save her; an off-duty lifeguard performed CPR but Hu later died at a hospital. The girl's mother was treated for mild hypothermia and released, and a 2-year-old with the family was uninjured. The incidents occurred amid a powerful winter-pattern storm that produced dangerously large waves and heavy rain along California's coast.
7-Year-Old Girl Recovered Off Central California Coast; Father Dies Trying to Save Her
The body of a 7-year-old girl swept into the Pacific during 15–20 foot surf was recovered Sunday about 100 yards offshore near Garrapata State Beach. Her father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, drowned after entering the water to try to save her; an off-duty lifeguard performed CPR but Hu later died at a hospital. The girl's mother was treated for mild hypothermia and released, and a 2-year-old with the family was uninjured. The incidents occurred amid a powerful winter-pattern storm that produced dangerously large waves and heavy rain along California's coast.
06:37 PM, 11/17/2025Society
Child's Body Recovered After Being Swept Into Pacific; Father Drowned Attempting Rescue
Search and recovery teams recovered the body of a young girl Sunday after she was swept into the Pacific amid extremely dangerous surf, officials said. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said a diver located the child's body shortly after 1 p.m., about 100 yards offshore and roughly a half-mile north of where she was last seen near Garrapata State Beach.
After speaking with family members, the sheriff's office confirmed the victim is 7 years old, correcting an earlier report that listed her age as 5. Her name has not been released.
Father Died Trying to Save Her
Authorities said a large wave pulled the girl from the shoreline shortly before 1 p.m. Friday while surf was estimated at 15 to 20 feet. Her father, identified as 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, went into the water in an attempt to reach her; both were carried farther out to sea.
An off-duty California State Parks lifeguard pulled Hu from the surf and performed CPR before emergency crews transported him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities reported.
Family and Other Responders
The girl's mother briefly entered the water to help and was assisted back to shore by the lifeguard and other responders. She was treated for mild hypothermia and released from a hospital. A 2-year-old who was with the family was uninjured.
"The family has expressed their gratitude to all agencies, personnel, and community members involved in the search and recovery efforts," the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said.
Storm Conditions and Separate Fatality
Officials linked the dangerous surf to a winter-pattern storm that moved down the California coast. The National Weather Service had warned of double- and triple-overhead waves and the possibility of "sneaker waves"—sudden large waves that can reach well onto dry sand without warning.
The storm system moved east Sunday, causing localized flooding in parts of Southern California, contributing to sliding-vehicle crashes, and dropping more than 12 inches of rain at San Marcos Pass in Santa Barbara County. National Weather Service data show Santa Barbara County received nearly half of its average annual rainfall during the storm.
In a separate, storm-related incident, the California Highway Patrol reported a 71-year-old man in Sutter County died Friday afternoon after his car was swept away by overflowing stormwater along Pleasant Grove Creek. Authorities said signs warning the road was flooded had been posted prior to the incident.
Note: Out of respect for the family, the child's name has not been released.