Press Release: Search Efforts Resume For 5-Year-Old Girl Missing After Her Family Was Swept Into Water By Wave Along Big Sur Coast
DATE/TIME: 11/15/2025 at 7:30 AM
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Multi-Agency Search Efforts Continue For 5-Year-Old Girl Still Missing After Family Was Swept Into The Water By Large Wave Along the Big Sur Coast
LOCATION: Garrapata State Beach, Monterey County, California
MEDIA CONTACT: Andres Rosas, Commander; Phone: 831-261-5492; Email: rosasae@countyofmonterey.gov
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office along with Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, California State Parks, Cal Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard have resumed search efforts for a 5-year-old girl that was swept into the ocean by a large wave on Friday November 14th just before 1:00 PM.
On Friday November 14th, 2025, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a water rescue incident at Garrapata State Beach located along Highway 1 just north of the Rocky Point Restaurant. An off-duty State Parks Peace Officer/Lifeguard located a family in distress near the water line.
An adult male was attempting to rescue his 5-year-old daughter from the ocean after she was pulled out by waves estimated to be 15-20 feet high. As the father and daughter were swept into the ocean, the mother attempted to reach out to both and was also swept into the water as her husband held on to his daughter’s hand. She was able to get back to shore on her own. A 2-year-old child was unharmed.
The officer was able to pull the father from the water and immediately began rendering CPR. The mother and father were transported to a local hospital where the father was pronounced deceased. The mother was listed in stable condition with mild hypothermia. The 5-year-old child remains missing. Information provided confirms that the child was last seen wearing a white shirt and not a red shirt as previously reported.
Search efforts continued until about 9:00 PM on Friday November 14th and were suspended due to weather and lighting conditions. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has re-established command of this multi-agency search which includes a helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Persons driving along Highway 1 through the area are respectively asked to avoid stopping at Garrapata State Beach to allow emergency services sufficient space to conduct their search operations.