7-Year-Old, Father Killed by ‘Very Big’ Wave

A family outing at a Northern California beach turned tragic over the weekend when a 7-year-old girl was swept away by a massive wave and her father drowned trying to save her. The incident occurred Friday at Garrapata State Beach in Monterey County.

Mike Dippel, chief ranger of California State Parks, said a passing storm had created “a large swell that generated very big waves,” estimated at 15 to 20 feet high, according to the New York Daily News.

The father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu of Calgary, Alberta, was reportedly walking along the beach with his family—including his 7-year-old daughter, her 2-year-old sibling, and their mother—when a wave pulled the older girl into the water. Hu jumped in to rescue her and was pulled under as well, authorities said.

The mother also entered the water but managed to return safely to shore. Their 2-year-old remained unharmed, according to Fox News. An off-duty lifeguard, with assistance from a passerby, was able to get Hu back to shore, but he was pronounced dead at a hospital.

After a two-day search, the 7-year-old’s body was recovered about half a mile from the beach on Sunday, the New York Daily News reported. Authorities said the mother, who was treated for mild hypothermia, has expressed gratitude to the rescue teams and requested privacy.

Original Source