Officials in California have identified the young Calgary girl who tragically lost her life on Friday after being swept into the Pacific Ocean. Anzi Hu, a 7-year-old, was caught in a large wave at Garrapata Beach, leading to her untimely death. Her father, Yuji Hu, aged 39, also perished while attempting to rescue her.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call about a water rescue at Garrapata Beach, located approximately 16 kilometers south of Carmel, just before 1 p.m. Anzi’s family encountered trouble in the water, prompting a response from a tourist and an off-duty lifeguard in the vicinity.
Yuji Hu was swept into the ocean while trying to save his daughter, and despite efforts by the tourist and lifeguard to perform CPR, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Anzi’s mother, who also tried to assist, was treated for mild hypothermia and discharged from the hospital. The family’s two-year-old daughter was unharmed in the incident.
Search operations for Anzi extended until 9 p.m. on Friday, halted due to darkness and adverse weather conditions. The search resumed at sunrise on Saturday and continued throughout the day, with further efforts on Sunday. Various agencies, including the Monterey County Sheriff’s search and rescue team, California State Parks, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the California Highway Patrol, collaborated in the search. Additionally, a naval air station provided helicopter support.
Juan Heredia, a diver and founder of a recovery dive team in California, joined the search effort on Sunday after hearing about the incident. With the guidance of local authorities, Heredia successfully located Anzi in the waves and brought her to shore.
Garrapata Beach is known for its hazardous conditions, with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office responding to similar incidents multiple times annually. The area experienced high surf advisories and warnings of large waves on the day of the tragedy due to recent storms. The beach’s topography, with sections quickly transitioning into deep water, intensifies the risks.
Visitors to the beach are advised to stay vigilant of surf conditions, avoid turning their backs to the ocean, and choose beaches with lifeguard services. Awareness of water conditions and precautions can help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
