Tragedy at Garrapata Beach: Canadian Father Dies Attempting to Save Daughter from Dangerous Waves

The tragic incident took place at Garrapata State Beach along Highway 1 in Monterey County, California.

A 39-year-old Canadian father lost his life after being swept into the ocean while attempting to save his 5-year-old daughter at Garrapata State Beach in Big Sur, California, on Friday. According to reports from New York Post, the young girl remains missing, while the mother, who also entered the water during the rescue attempt, survived. The family was caught in dangerous conditions as the area was experiencing a significant swell with waves reaching heights of 15 to 20 feet.

The tragedy began when a powerful wave pulled the 5-year-old girl into the Pacific Ocean. Her father, identified as Yuji Hu, immediately entered the water to rescue her, but both were subsequently pulled further out to sea by the strong currents. The mother also jumped in to assist but fortunately managed to return to shore safely. The couple's 2-year-old child remained on the beach and was unharmed during the incident.

Monterey County Sheriff's Commander Andres Rosas provided details on the rescue attempt: "He jumped into the water to try to rescue his daughter, and in the process, mom also jumped into the water. It was reported to us that dad had a hold of his daughter at one point. Mom was able to get back to shore."

An off-duty California State Parks lifeguard and a bystander managed to pull Mr. Hu from the water and immediately performed CPR. Both Mr. Hu and his wife were transported to a local hospital, where tragically, he was pronounced dead. The mother was treated for mild hypothermia and subsequently released from the hospital.

The search operation for the missing 5-year-old continues, with state parks officials conducting thorough shoreline patrols in the days following the incident. The grieving family has requested privacy during this difficult time and has not provided any public comments regarding the father's death, according to police statements.

Authorities have emphasized the importance of safety at coastal areas, strongly reminding visitors to remain vigilant and never turn their backs to the ocean, especially during periods of large swells and hazardous surf conditions.