A family outing turned into tragedy on Friday, November 14, 2025, when 36-year-old Yuji Lee, a Canadian resident of Calgary, Alberta, drowned while attempting to rescue his 5-year-old daughter from powerful rogue waves at Garrapata State Beach in Big Sur, California. According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Lee was vacationing with his wife and two young children—ages 5 and 2—enjoying the rugged coastline despite hazardous surf advisories warning of 15- to 20-foot waves generated by a Pacific storm system. Witnesses and official reports describe the harrowing sequence: a massive “sneaker wave” suddenly surged ashore, sweeping the little girl into the churning ocean. Without hesitation, Lee plunged into the frigid, turbulent waters to reach her. His wife followed in a desperate bid to help, but the ferocious currents quickly overwhelmed the family. Monterey County Sheriff’s Commander Andrew Rosz reported that responders later observed Lee briefly holding his daughter above the water before another wave tore them apart. The mother, fighting exhaustion, managed to swim back to shore where their 2-year-old waited safely on the sand. An off-duty California State Parks officer and a good Samaritan tourist spotted Lee struggling and pulled him from the surf using rescue gear. Emergency crews performed CPR on the beach before rushing him to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, where he was pronounced dead from drowning and hypothermia. Tragically, the 5-year-old girl vanished beneath the waves and remains unaccounted for despite an extensive multi-agency search. The U.S. Coast Guard deployed helicopters, boats, and drone teams, while Monterey County lifeguards and sheriff’s marine units scoured a 10-mile stretch of coastline through the weekend, battling poor visibility and ongoing high surf. As of November 17, the operation has shifted to recovery mode, with authorities urging the public to avoid the area due to persistent dangerous conditions. Local officials emphasized the perils of Big Sur’s untamed beaches, noting that Garrapata lacks lifeguard services and is notorious for unpredictable rip currents and sneaker waves—sudden, extra-large swells that can catch even experienced beachgoers off guard. The National Weather Service had issued high-surf and rip current warnings for the Central California coast that day, advising visitors to stay out of the water. Heartbreaking tributes have poured in from the Calgary community, where Lee was remembered as a devoted family man and software engineer. His wife, who sustained minor injuries but was treated and released, is cooperating with investigators. The incident underscores the deadly risks of coastal storms, with experts renewing calls for stricter visitor education and signage at remote beaches.