‘It was hard’: Rescue diver recalls finding Calgary girl’s body near California beach

The Monterey County sheriff's office says Yuji Hu, 39, tried to save his daughter after a powerful wave dragged her from the shoreline into the Pacific Ocean.

When Juan Heredia heard the news of a father and daughter from Calgary being swept into the ocean, he felt compelled to help, especially when he learned the daughter was still missing.

“I saw it on the news Saturday. I decided to start driving Sunday morning,” he said.

“I live three hours away in Stockton, Calif.”

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On Friday at Garrapata State Beach, a wave estimated to be 4.5 to six metres high (15 to 20 feet) swept seven-year-old Anzi Hu into the ocean.

Her father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu, jumped into the water to try to save her.

He was later pulled from the water by a passerby and a first responder and given CPR.

He died in hospital.

A large search was launched to find the still-missing girl.

When Heredia arrived at the beach Sunday morning, he met up with the sheriff and the lifeguards to learn the details of the case before he joined the search.

“They suggested she drifted south,” he said.

“I was waiting for low tide so I could dive.”

Waves very dangerous, diver says

Heredia started walking toward the water to determine his point of entry and it was there he decided to change course and started walking north.

“When I was walking on the beach to the north, I saw her in the water in the waves; something was coming up and down and up and down. There was something tumbling in the waves.”

Heredia was able to walk about 30 to 40 metres into the water and lift her out.

He said the waves at this location are very strong.

He has assisted in the recovery of several young drowning victims but says this one hit close to home as he remembered all the things he did with his daughter when she was seven; she’s 23 now.

“I had to drive home three hours. ... It was hard.”

Heredia founded Angels Recovery Dive Team in 2024 after completing 13 searches for seven sons and daughters.

He says it’s important to him to help families in their searches for their loved ones who have drowned.

The Sheriff’s Office of Monterey County, California, have formally identified the body as being that of seven-year-old Anzi Hu.

Police initially reported her age as five.

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.”