A massive Pacific Ocean wave claimed the lives of a Canadian father and his 7-year-old daughter while their family visited California’s dangerous coastline, highlighting the deadly risks tourists face at unforgiving natural landmarks.
Story Summary
- 39-year-old Canadian father Yuji Hu and his 7-year-old daughter died after a 15-20 foot wave swept them into the Pacific Ocean.
- The family was visiting near the Rocky Point Restaurant in Monterey County when tragedy struck on Friday afternoon.
- Mother also swept into the water but survived, hospitalized with hypothermia, while the 2-year-old remained safe.
- Daughter’s body was recovered on Sunday by a diver 100 yards offshore after an extensive search operation.
Massive Wave Strikes Family Near Popular Restaurant
Yuji Hu of Calgary, Alberta, was visiting California’s scenic Monterey County coastline with his family when disaster struck just before 1 p.m. A towering 15-to-20-foot wave crashed near Rocky Point Restaurant, instantly sweeping the 39-year-old father and his 7-year-old daughter into the unforgiving Pacific Ocean.
The mother desperately attempted to help her husband and daughter, but was also pulled into the churning waters by the massive wave. While she managed to fight her way back to shore and rejoin their unharmed 2-year-old, her husband courageously held onto their daughter as both were carried away by the powerful current. This heartbreaking scene unfolded in mere seconds, transforming a family outing into every parent’s worst nightmare.
A 39-year-old father and his 7-year-old daughter were found dead after a large wave pulled them into the ocean in Monterey County, California, authorities said.
The age of the girl was originally reported by officials as 5 years old.
Read more: https://t.co/yvuaifJ8LW pic.twitter.com/g7o4Wmkyu7
— ABC News (@ABC) November 17, 2025
Father Dies Despite Rescue Efforts
Emergency responders successfully pulled Yuji Hu from the ocean and immediately began CPR in a desperate attempt to save his life. The father was rushed to a local hospital, where medical professionals continued life-saving efforts, but he was ultimately pronounced dead.
His heroic final act was protecting his daughter in the water, demonstrating the selfless love that defines strong fathers who put their children’s safety above their own lives.
The mother was hospitalized in stable condition, suffering from mild hypothermia after her terrifying ordeal in the frigid Pacific waters. She survived the same deadly conditions that claimed her husband and daughter, leaving her to face the unimaginable grief of losing half her family in a single tragic moment. The 2-year-old remained physically unharmed throughout the incident.
Extensive Search Ends in Heartbreak
Search and rescue teams launched an intensive operation to locate the missing 7-year-old girl after she disappeared into the ocean with her father. The challenging search continued for three days across dangerous waters and shifting currents.
On Sunday afternoon, a diver finally located the child’s body approximately 100 yards offshore and half a mile north of where she was last seen.
The diver brought the young girl’s body to shore and immediately notified State Parks officials of the recovery. Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams assisted with the tragic retrieval, ending the family’s desperate hope for a miracle.
Officials initially reported the child’s age as 5 years old before correcting the information, highlighting the confusion that often accompanies such traumatic emergency situations.
