In a poignant twist of fate, a family finds themselves grappling with the loss of their little daughter and her grandfather, both tragically swept out into the water over the weekend. Unfortunately, the little girl succumbed to her wounds in the hospital, leaving her mom and other loved ones forever shattered and crippled by the loss.
The pain of losing someone hits hardest when it happens suddenly, catching people off guard and turning their lives upside down. The abrupt absence of a loved one can act as an emotional earthquake, shaking the very foundations of one's existence.
When someone we love is unexpectedly taken away, it often forces us to come to terms with the fragility of life, altering their perspectives and reshaping their existence. A similar heartbreaking story unfolded for one family during a regular weekend. They had no clue that an unforeseen tragedy was waiting to change their lives forever.
An Unforeseen Incident
A tragic incident unfolded in Half Moon Bay over the weekend, claiming the lives of a five-year-old girl, identified as Yaretzi Noemi Biorato, and her 54-year-old grandfather, Pascal A. Micheletto Soriano. The grandfather-granddaughter duo were reportedly swept into the sea at Martin's Beach, prompting an extensive search by the U.S. Coast Guard.
He fondly remembered Yaretzi's love for unicorns, jewelry, painting her nails, the color yellow, and her affection for everyone.
The San Mateo County Coroner's Office confirmed the victims' identities on Monday, November 27, 2023. Little Yaretzi was initially rescued and hospitalized but later succumbed to the terrifying ordeal.
The incident occurred following National Weather Service warnings about the heightened risk of potentially deadly sneaker waves on northwest-facing beaches from coastal Sonoma County to Monterey County. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search operation involving an aircrew and boat crew covering 100 square miles. Despite these efforts, the search for Pascal was called off on Sunday afternoon, November 26.
Levi Read, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson, disclosed that the decision to suspend the 22-hour search was made after nearly 24 hours without any sightings of the missing person. The search involved resources from Air Station San Francisco, Station Golden Gate, and Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill.
Captain Jordan Baldueza, serving as the deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, expressed his sentiments regarding the unfortunate incident. He said making the decision to suspend search efforts was exceptionally challenging. Captain Baldueza extended heartfelt condolences to the family and friends affected by this profoundly tragic event.
The National Weather Service was said to have issued warnings about "sneaker waves," emphasizing the risk along the California coast from Point Reyes to Big Sur. These unpredictable waves can sweep across beaches without warning, posing dangers to individuals and even moving heavy objects.
In response to the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard dispatched multiple search units, including a 47-foot motor lifeboat, a helicopter, and an 87-foot patrol boat, highlighting the coordinated efforts to address emergencies of this nature.
The initial report reached the Coast Guard at 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, November 25. Engaging in the search efforts were the Station Golden Gate 47-foot motor lifeboat crew, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill crew. Continuing throughout the night and into early Sunday morning, the decision to suspend the search was made at 12:38 p.m. on Sunday.
Gone Too Soon
Following their beloved girl's untimely death, tributes and heartfelt messages poured in from her family on social media. Yesenia Valenzuela, Yaretzi's mother, took to Facebook on November 27, expressing profound grief and everlasting love, stating that her little daughter would always be loved and remembered. Yesenia penned, "I love you baby girl, I miss you so much."
In another post, Yesenia continued to share her pain, urging others to cherish moments with their children and expressing the difficulty of the situation. She also requested prayers for her still-missing father, saying, "My [baby girl] I miss you so much. Hug your kids tight, tell them you love them often...Pls keep grandpa Pascal in your prayers as well; he still hasn't been found."
In addition to Yesenia's heartfelt posts, the little girl's godfather, Jason Salcido, posted a poignant message on Facebook. He expressed regret and deep emotions, noting that there was nothing he could have done and wishing he could have said goodbye one last time.
Jason mentioned having the privilege to be Yaretzi's godfather, a role he would always hold. He fondly remembered Yaretzi's love for unicorns, jewelry, painting her nails, the color yellow, and her affection for everyone.
In the wake of the tragic incident, Yesenia's cousin, Daniela Velazquez, has created a GoFundMe page to support the heartbroken mom and cover her little girl's funeral expenses. Remembering their sweet angel, Daniela wrote:
"We lost a beautiful soul unexpectedly, we ask in whatever form that you are able to help so that we are able to lay to rest our beautiful baby girl Yaretzi. God called upon her to enter his kingdom after she shared 5 beautiful and bright years of her life with us."
The fundraiser has garnered significant support, amassing $1,328 of its $7,000 goal as of November 28, with more donations expected to pour in soon.
Click here to read another story about a girl who died while playing with friends a day before her eighth birthday.
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