Police in California say a Calgary man died while trying to save his young daughter from being pulled into the ocean by a large wave.

According to a news release from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened at Garrapata State Beach on Friday.

Officers were called to the beach for a water rescue.

The sheriff’s office says Yuji Hu, 39, entered the water to save his five-year-old daughter after she was swept off the shoreline by waves estimated to be 15 to 20 feet high (4.5 to six metres).

“As Hu reached for his daughter, both were pulled farther into the ocean,” said a news release. “The child’s mother attempted to assist but was also swept into the water. She was ultimately able to make it back to shore.”

A Good Samaritan assisted an off-duty California State Parks officer in pulling Hu from the water. They performed CPR.

Both Hu and the mother – whose name hasn’t been released by police – were transported to a local hospital where Hu was later pronounced dead.

The mother was last listed in stable condition with mild hypothermia, police said.

A two-year-old child who was present was unharmed, police said.

California authorities confirm that the body matching the description of the five-year-old girl has been found. The body will be transported to the city of Salinas to be formally identified.

Large-scale search efforts to find the child took place on Saturday from sunrise to sunset, to no avail.

“Large-scale search operations have now been suspended,” police said. “On Sunday, Nov. 16, California State Parks will maintain personnel on scene at Garrapata State Beach to continue shoreline and accessible-area searches on foot.”

“A spokesperson for the family has requested privacy during this difficult time, and the family does not wish to issue any public statement.”