Body of missing girl found after being swept into the ocean
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - The body of a seven-year-old girl swept into the ocean at a beach in Big Sur has been found.
Her father died trying to save her, and the Monterey County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) confirmed a diver spotted the girl in the water and brought her to shore.
At Garrapata State Beach Sunday, scuba diver Juan Heredia pulled a seven-year-old girl from the water. He says he first spotted her hair in the choppy water and waded in.
"I walked inside to the water up to my waist and grabbed her and take her out out of the waves," Heredia shared.
Heredia recovered the girl about half a mile north of where a powerful wave swept her into the ocean friday.
Her father, 39-year-old Yugi Hu of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, jumped into the water to try to save his daughter, but he later died.
The girl's mother went in to help too, but was overtaken by the surf. She ultimately made it back to shore and was hospitalized with mild hypothermia and released.
The couple's other daughter, a two-year-old, was on the beach and safe.
The search for the seven-years-old continued by air, water and foot. Heredia says when he learned of the search, he jumped in his car and drove three hours from Stockton to help.
"I came with the intention to find her, and I was lucky enough to bring closure to the family," Heredia explained.
Heredia, who is a scuba instructor, runs a nonprofit called Angels Recovery Dive Team. He says he has recovered the bodies of more than a dozen people who have drowned.
The father of two says he just wanted to help the grieving family visiting in Big Sur.
"I tried to be in their shoes when this accident happened. Any parent would like to have their baby back home as soon as possible," Heredia expressed.
MCSO said the girl was initially reported as being five-years-old, but after talking with other family members, it was clarified that she was seven-years-old.
