A family’s visit to the scenic Garrapata State Beach took a heartbreaking turn on Friday afternoon, resulting in the death of 39-year-old Yuji Hu, and the tragic disappearance of his young daughter. The family, visiting from Calgary, had arrived hoping to enjoy a peaceful day by the ocean, unaware of the dangerous conditions lurking just beyond the shoreline.
Witnesses reported seeing Hu standing at the water’s edge, holding the hand of his 5-year-old daughter, moments before the ocean’s deadly force struck. Without warning, a powerful wave surged from the water, knocking them both off their feet and dragging them into the violent current. In a desperate attempt to save her family, Hu’s wife rushed into the water, leaving their 2-year-old on the beach, helplessly watching the chaos unfold.
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Emergency services were called immediately, and first responders arrived at the scene to find two bystanders—an off-duty park officer and a visitor—who had managed to pull Hu from the water. Despite their efforts to revive him with CPR, Hu was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. The relentless power of the ocean had proven too much, and his family was left to cope with an unimaginable loss.
Hu’s wife was rescued by lifeguards, suffering from hypothermia and emotional shock. She was rushed to the hospital, but the overwhelming pain of her survival was tempered by the horrifying reality that their daughter was still missing. Search teams, including fire crews, water rescue units, and volunteers, began a frantic effort to locate the little girl. The rough waters, however, made the search increasingly perilous.
As the weekend progressed, conditions worsened, and search operations had to be suspended by Sunday afternoon due to worsening weather. It wasn’t long after the search was called off that Mid-Coast Fire Chief Cheryl Goetz confirmed the tragic discovery of a child’s body matching the missing girl’s description. The body was recovered and transported to the coroner’s office for official identification.
While the community held out hope throughout the weekend, the discovery brought the heartbreaking reality of the family’s loss. The authorities are still awaiting official confirmation, but the tragedy has left the family and the community in mourning. The once-beautiful day at the beach turned into a nightmare that no family should ever have to endure, and as the community grieves, thoughts are with the surviving members of the Hu family, whose lives have been forever altered by the unforgiving force of nature.