Calgary dad dies trying to save 7-year-old daughter swept into ocean in California

Authorities in California confirm a Calgary man died while trying to save his daughter from the ocean. A body matching the child's description has been found.

Police in California say a Calgary man died while trying to save his young daughter from being pulled into the ocean by a large wave.

According to a news release from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened at Garrapata State Beach on Friday.

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Officers were called to the beach for a water rescue.

The sheriff’s office says Yuji Hu, 39, entered the water to save his daughter after she was swept off the shoreline by waves estimated to be 15 to 20 feet high (4.5 to six metres).

“As Hu reached for his daughter, both were pulled farther into the ocean,” said a news release. “The child’s mother attempted to assist but was also swept into the water. She was ultimately able to make it back to shore.”

A Good Samaritan assisted an off-duty California State Parks officer in pulling Hu from the water. They performed CPR.

Both Hu and the mother – whose name hasn’t been released by police – were transported to a local hospital where Hu was later pronounced dead.

The mother was last listed in stable condition with mild hypothermia, police said.

A two-year-old child who was present was unharmed, police said.

Diver located girl’s body

Large-scale search efforts to find the child took place on Saturday from sunrise to sunset, to no avail.

On Sunday, authorities confirmed that a body matching the description of the girl was found at 1:20 p.m.

A diver located the remains about 100 yards offshore, about half a mile north of the child’s last known location.

The Sheriff’s Office of Monterey County, California, have formally identified the body as being that of the missing girl.

Police initially reported the age of the girl who was swept out into the water as five years old. Family members at the scene later clarified she was seven.

“A spokesperson for the family has requested privacy during this difficult time, and the family does not wish to issue any public statement,” officials said in a statement.

“The family has expressed their gratitude to all agencies, personnel and community members involved in the search and recovery efforts.”