Yuji Hu, a 39-year-old father from Calgary, Alberta, has tragically died after attempting to save his daughter, who was swept into the Pacific Ocean by massive waves during a family outing at Garrapata State Beach in California.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on November 14, 2025, and has left a family and community in mourning.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the family Hu, his wife, their young daughter, and a two-year-old child was visiting Garrapata State Park when a large wave, estimated to be between 15 and 20 feet high, swept the little girl from the shoreline.
In a heroic response, Hu jumped into the turbulent surf in a desperate effort to rescue his daughter.
As he reached for her, both were carried further out into the ocean by the powerful swell.
At the same time, Hu’s wife also entered the water trying to help. She was eventually able to make it back to shore, though severely shaken and treated for mild hypothermia.
Meanwhile, other beachgoers, including an off-duty California State Parks peace officer/lifeguard, rushed into action. They pulled Hu from the water and immediately began CPR. He was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Their two-year-old child, who had been present but not involved in the wave incident, escaped physical harm.
A large-scale, multi-agency search operation was launched in the aftermath of the incident. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with California State Parks, the U.S. Coast Guard, CAL FIRE, Monterey County Search and Rescue, and other state agencies, deploying both ground teams and aircraft in a desperate bid to find the missing child.
On November 16, a diver recovered the body of a young girl about a half-mile north of where she was last seen. Family members later confirmed the child was 7 years old not 5, as initially reported.
Authorities say the family has requested privacy during this distressing time and have declined to make a public statement.
In their brief communication through officials, they expressed profound gratitude to the many agencies and community members involved in search and rescue.
Yuji Hu is being remembered by friends, community, and the public as a devoted father who displayed tremendous courage in the face of danger.
His selfless act diving into treacherous waves to save his daughter is being honored by many as a final, loving sacrifice.
The story has deeply resonated, particularly in his hometown of Calgary, where the shock of his passing has sparked grief and reflection.
No funeral or memorial plans have yet been announced publicly, and given the family's request for privacy, further details remain private. But for many, Yuji Hu’s legacy will live on not just as a dad who lost his life, but as a hero who gave everything to try to save his child.
