Father dead, daughter missing after being swept out to sea
BIG SUR, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A father was killed and his five-year-old daughter is missing after being swept out to sea by rough surf in Big Sur.
The search for the missing girl has now turned into a recovery effort, according to officials.
New images in what is now a recovery effort on the Big Sur coast where heavy waves pulled three family members into the pacific Friday afternoon.
Crews set out on foot and scanned the coast from cliff tops again Saturday.
They also searched with Coast Guard helicopters and boats looking for a five-year-old girl lost in the strong surf.
"This has been a very tragic situation for this family," said Cmdr. Andres Rosas with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).
MCSO said the family was visiting the beach on vacation from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They say 39-year-old Yuji Hu died in the waves when he tried to rescue his daughter.
"In the process, mom also jumped into the water. It was reported to us that dad had hold of his daughter at one point...Mom was able to get back to shore," Cmdr. Rosas shared.
Rosas told an NBC affiliate in the Bay Area the girl wasn't wearing a life jacket when a huge sneaker wave slammed the shoreline.
"At no point have we ever suspected that these parents were not doing what they do as a parent, and what all parents do for their children, which is keeping an eye out on them and making sure they are safe at all times," Rosas expressed.
The mother swam back to shore safely and a local park's officer pulled her husband from the water, but was unable to resuscitate him. However, their daughter was never found.
"I can tell you that this is a very difficult moment for them. The family, through a spokesperson has asked for privacy at this time, and they do not wish to make any further statement," Rosas remarked.
While air and boat rescues have been called off, state parks and sheriff's crews will continue to patrol the shoreline in the area in the recovery effort.
The mother was hospitalized with mild hypothermia from the 59-degree water, but is now with the couple's two-year-old who was also at the beach with the family but was unharmed.
