On Sunday afternoon a diver located the body of a young girl who had been pulled into the Pacific by large surf two days earlier near Garrapata State Beach, Monterey County authorities said. The girl, now confirmed as 7 years old, was found about 100 yards offshore shortly after 1 p.m., roughly a half-mile north of her last known position. Her father, identified as 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, had gone into the water to try to save her and later died after being pulled from the surf and taken to a hospital. Local agencies said the child’s name has not been released and family members have been notified.
Key Takeaways
- The girl’s body was recovered Sunday shortly after 1 p.m., about 100 yards offshore and roughly 0.5 miles north of where she was last seen in the water.
- Monterey County officials corrected the child’s age to 7 after speaking with family; her name remains private.
- The incident began shortly before 1 p.m. Friday at Garrapata State Beach, about 12 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, during surf estimated at 15–20 feet.
- Her father, Yuji Hu, 39, of Calgary, entered the water and was later pulled from the surf by an off-duty California State Parks lifeguard; he died at a hospital.
- The mother entered the water as well but returned to shore with lifeguard assistance and was treated for mild hypothermia and released.
- A 2-year-old who was with the family was not injured.
- The same winter-pattern storm system produced dangerous double- and triple-overhead surf, prompted National Weather Service warnings about sneaker waves, and dumped more than 12 inches of rain at San Marcos Pass.
- Separately, a 71-year-old man died in Sutter County when his car was swept away by storm runoff along Pleasant Grove Creek; warning signs had been posted at that location.
Background
Large ocean swells and storm-driven surf are common in California during winter-pattern storms, which can produce powerful shore break, rip currents and so-called “sneaker waves” that arrive without warning. The Central Coast experienced one such storm the weekend of the incident, with the National Weather Service warning of double- and triple-overhead surf that posed significant risk to beachgoers. Garrapata State Beach, a rocky and exposed stretch about 12 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, is known for strong currents and unpredictable waves, especially during high surf advisories.
Search-and-rescue responses on the Central Coast typically involve multiple agencies including county sheriff departments, state park lifeguards and volunteer dive teams; those teams coordinate with the National Weather Service when conditions complicate operations. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office led the recovery efforts in this case and confirmed details about the victims after consulting family members. Local hospitals and emergency responders also handled immediate treatment and transport for the survivors and the father who was resuscitated on the beach.
Main Event
Shortly before 1 p.m. on Friday a wave pulled the girl from the shoreline at Garrapata State Beach into turbulent water while surf was estimated at 15 to 20 feet, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Her father, Yuji Hu, entered the surf to try to reach her; both were carried farther offshore by strong waves and currents. An off-duty California State Parks lifeguard reached the father and removed him from the water, performing CPR on the beach before he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The girl’s mother entered the water in an effort to help and was later brought back to shore with the lifeguard’s assistance; she was treated for mild hypothermia and released from hospital care. A 2-year-old who had been with the family at the beach was unharmed. Search-and-recovery operations continued into the weekend and concluded Sunday when a diver found the girl’s body roughly 100 yards offshore and about half a mile north of her last known location, the sheriff’s office said.
Monterey County officials said they notified family members before publicly confirming the child’s age as 7; earlier reporting had indicated she was 5. The office also thanked participating agencies, personnel and community members involved in the search and recovery effort. Weather conditions and surf height complicated the search, limiting the windows when divers and boats could safely operate.
Analysis & Implications
This tragedy highlights the persistent danger posed by storm-driven surf and sneaker waves on California’s coastline. Even experienced swimmers and rescuers can be overwhelmed when surf reaches 15–20 feet and rip currents strengthen, as happened here. Beaches that appear calm on the sand can be subject to sudden, powerful waves that catch people off guard, particularly near rocky points and steep shorelines like those at Garrapata.
The loss of life in this incident also underscores challenges for public safety planning and public communication during high-surf events. Agencies routinely post signs and issue warnings, but compliance depends on public awareness and risk perception. The separate Sutter County death—where warning signs were reportedly posted before a vehicle was swept away—illustrates that posted alerts do not always prevent tragedies when people or drivers misjudge conditions.
For emergency responders, the events demonstrate the importance of rapid multi-agency coordination and having trained personnel available, including off-duty lifeguards who sometimes perform critical rescues. However, even prompt rescues can result in fatalities when environmental forces are extreme. Going forward, officials may consider additional outreach, temporary beach closures, or more visible barriers during similar storm events to reduce public exposure to hazardous surf.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Recent Storm Weekend | Typical Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Surf Height | 15–20 ft | Varies seasonally |
| San Marcos Pass Rain | >12 inches (weekend) | ~17 inches (annual average countywide) |
| Distance from Last Known Point | ~0.5 miles (recovery location north) | — |
The table above places the weekend’s surf and rainfall in context: San Marcos Pass recorded more than 12 inches of rain during the storm, approaching about half of Santa Barbara County’s average annual total of 17 inches. Surf of 15–20 feet on the Central Coast is consistent with large winter swell events that elevate risks for rip currents and sneaker waves. The recovered body was located roughly a half-mile north of where the child entered the water, illustrating how strong currents can move victims significant distances.
Reactions & Quotes
“The family has expressed their gratitude to all agencies, personnel, and community members involved in the search and recovery efforts.”
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (official statement)
“Warning signs were posted at the Sutter County location prior to the incident.”
California Highway Patrol (official statement)
“Double- and triple-overhead surf and sneaker waves were possible along the Central Coast during this storm.”
National Weather Service (public advisory)
Unconfirmed
- Exact timeline of rescue attempts between the moment the girl was swept away and the father’s extraction is not publicly detailed beyond agency summaries.
- Autopsy results and final cause of death for the child and the father have not been publicly released.
- Further plans by the family, including any public statements or memorials, have not been announced.
Bottom Line
The recovery of the 7-year-old girl’s body after a high-surf incident at Garrapata State Beach closes a short but tragic sequence that also cost the life of her father, Yuji Hu. Officials attribute the danger to storm-driven 15–20 foot surf and warned the public in advance about sneaker waves and powerful currents; nonetheless, the family entered the water in an effort to rescue one another.
This episode reinforces the limits of individual rescue attempts in extreme marine conditions and the need for stronger public adherence to posted warnings and advisories. As cleanup and notifications continue, authorities and coastal communities will likely review communication and safety measures to reduce the chance of similar losses in future storms.