California State Park lifeguards search for a missing 7-year-old girl swept into the ocean on Friday, Nov. 14, at Garrapata State Park.

November 17, 2025 - The body of a girl who was swept into the ocean at Garrapata State Park on Nov. 14 was recovered by a volunteer diver at approximately 1:20 p.m. Sunday about half a mile north of where she went missing, California State Parks and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced. Authorities had previously announced the girl’s father, 39-year-old Yuji Hu, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, had died after attempting to rescue his daughter in high-surf conditions. The child was initially reported to be 5 years old, but family members who arrived in the area have clarified she was 7.

Related: California State Parks, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Continue Search for Missing 5-year-old Swept into Ocean at Garrapata State Park

California State Parks, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, CAL FIRE, Monterey County Search and Rescue, and the California Highway Patrol had searched the water around Garrapata State Park since the afternoon of Nov. 14, when the girl was swept into the ocean by 15- to 20-foot waves. An off-duty State Park Peace Officer (SPPO) Lifeguard jumped into action when he spotted a family in distress near the water line at Garrapata State Park at about 12:50 p.m. The SPPO Lifeguard managed to pull Hu out of the water and began CPR. The mother of the girl was also swept into the ocean but managed to get back to shore with the assistance of the off-duty lifeguard. She was transported by ambulance to a local hospital in stable condition with mild hypothermia. Hu was also taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A 2-year-old child who was present was unharmed.

Source: CA. State Parks