The search for a missing 5-year-old girl lost off the Big Sur coast in the ocean Friday is now a recovery effort.
The sheriff’s department confirmed Saturday that the little girl was not wearing a life jacket when she was pulled into the ocean by 15 to 20 foot waves, and they have no hope she’ll be found alive now in the icy 59-degree ocean waters.
This happened Friday at about 1 p.m. at Garrapata State Beach along Highway 1 in Monterey County.
Witnesses said the father saw his 5-year-old girl struggling in the heavy waves and when he tried to reach her, they were both pulled farther from shore.
Andres Rosas, Monterey County Sheriff’s commander, said the father was 39-year-old Yuji Hu from Canada.
“He jumped into the water to try to rescue his daughter, and in the process, mom also jumped into the water. It was reported to us that dad had a hold of his daughter at one point. Mom was able to get back to shore,” said Rosas.
The girl’s mom was hospitalized overnight for mild hypothermia but has been released and is now with the couple’s 2-year-old, who was also at the beach Friday but was unharmed.
While this is a recovery effort, state parks will continue to have foot patrols scanning the shoreline for the missing girl in the coming days.
Thom Jensen
Source link