Additional Coverage:
- Wave drags man into ocean at same park where a father and daughter died days earlier (abcnews.go.com)
Search Continues for Man Swept into Ocean at Garrapata State Park, Following Recent Tragedies
MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – A multi-agency search entered its second day Sunday for a man who was swept into the Pacific Ocean by a wave at Garrapata State Park. This incident marks the second such tragedy in a week at the same location, where a father and his 7-year-old daughter died under similar circumstances just days prior.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Sunday that the operation for the missing man has transitioned from a search-and-rescue mission to a search-and-recovery effort.
The incident unfolded Saturday around 3 p.m. local time at Soberanes Point within the park. A large wave struck the now-missing man and two women who were also standing on the point. The two women were able to self-rescue and were transported to a local hospital, though their conditions remain unknown.
A comprehensive search for the missing man, including a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew, was launched Saturday.
Authorities reported that around 4:24 p.m., a Coast Guard helicopter spotted what appeared to be a body in the ocean but lost visual due to high surf and could not relocate it. The search was suspended Saturday evening due to darkness and resumed Sunday morning.
The missing man, whose identity has not been released, is described as approximately 30 years old, last seen wearing a white turban, a black shirt, black shorts, and a black vest-style jacket.
This incident follows a tragic event on November 15, when 39-year-old Yuji Hu and his 7-year-old daughter Anzi Hu, both from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, were dragged into the ocean by a 15-to-20-foot wave at Garrapata State Park and subsequently died.
The Sheriff’s Office has issued a public reminder about a current beach hazards warning in the area. They urge the public to “stay off rocks and back from the water’s edge,” emphasizing that “ocean waves are unpredictable and pose a safety hazard to the public.”