PICTURED: California girl, 5, who drowned after being swept off a rock by ‘sneaker wave’ – as her grandfather remains missing and mom pays tribute to ‘a beautiful soul’

The five-year-old girl who drowned after being swept off a cliff with her grandfather by a ‘sneaker wave’ has been identified.

Yaretzi Noemi Biorato has died and her 54-year-old grandfather Pascal Soriano is missing after the incident Saturday at Martin’s Beach in California’s Half Moon Bay.

Their heartbroken family paid tribute to her “beautiful soul” and said she spent “five bright and beautiful” years on earth loving everyone she met.

Yaretzi, from Merced, California, was remembered for her love of unicorns, jewelry, painting her nails and the color yellow, according to her devastated godfather.

Her mother Yesenia Valenzuela wrote on Facebook: “My little girl, Mommy will always love and remember you. I love you girl, I miss you so much.”

The little girl’s family have paid tribute to the ‘beautiful soul’ who spent ‘five bright and beautiful’ on earth

In another statement, she wrote, “My babygurl, I miss you so much. Hug your children tightly and tell them you love them often.

‘This is so hard. I detest it . Please keep Grandpa Pascal in your prayers, he still hasn’t been found.’

On a GoFundMecreated by the cousin of the little girl’s mother, the family member wrote: ‘I’m starting this on behalf of my cousin Yesenia, who tragically lost her baby girl last Saturday, November 25, 2023.

‘We have unexpectedly lost a beautiful soul, we ask that you help in any way possible so that we can lay our beautiful girl Yaretzi to rest.

“God called her to enter His kingdom after sharing five wonderful and beautiful years of her life with us.

“Please send our respects and condolences to the family she leaves behind, and if you are able to contribute to the anticipated costs, we would greatly appreciate it.”

The couple was reported in danger Saturday around 2 p.m. when the San Mateo County Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard were called to Martin’s Beach.

Although the girl was rescued and taken to a local hospital for treatment, she was pronounced dead on Sunday

San Mateo County firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to reports that the pair was struck by a sneaker wave at Martin’s Beach in California’s Half Moon Bay around 2 p.m. Saturday.

Jordan Baldueza, deputy commander of the San Francisco Coast Guard Sector said, “The decision to suspend search efforts is one of the most difficult decisions to make, but our crews searched for nearly 24 hours without any sightings of the missing person.

“Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this very tragic event.”

Although the girl was rescued and taken to a local hospital for treatment, she was pronounced dead on Sunday.

Coast Guard crews scoured more than 100 square miles with helicopters and boats for about 22 hours looking for her grandfather before finally calling it off.

The California coast, from Point Reyes to Big Sur, is under a beach hazard warning all weekend.

The National Weather Service warned beachgoers to “stay out of the water” because “large, unexpected waves can crash over the beach without warning and push people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches.”

The weather service predicted the worst sneaker waves would occur along west- to northwest-facing beaches. Tributes poured in for little Yaretzi.

Her godfather Jason Salcido wrote: ‘Yaretzi, I know there was nothing I could do. I wish I could say goodbye one last time, knowing it would be the last.

‘There was one last time, I just didn’t know it. I had the privilege of being your godfather, your Nino, which I always will be.

“I know you loved unicorns, you loved jewelry, you loved painting your nails, you loved yellow, you loved everyone and everyone loved you.

“I should have taken care of you, but now I hope you’ll watch over me.” I miss holding you or holding your hand, but I know I will see you again.

“I don’t know if you can hear me, but I love you mi hermosa ahijada. I love you moms. “Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?”