5-year-old swept – A 5-year-old girl swept into the Pacific Ocean off Southern California was recovered Thursday morning after nearly two days of searching following dangerous surf near Laguna Beach.
For nearly two days. Southern California’s coastline held its breath as a 5-year-old girl—swept into the Pacific Ocean near Laguna Beach—was missing after Tuesday night’s dangerous surf. Thursday morning, authorities confirmed her body was recovered, ending a search that had drawn wide attention across the area.
The girl was pulled into the water near Laguna Beach, about 50 miles south of Los Angeles, during hazardous conditions Tuesday night. Bystanders were able to rescue her mother and her sibling, but the child disappeared beneath the waves.
Her body was found Thursday morning, less than a day after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended a massive search operation. That effort had lasted more than 30 hours and covered over 90 square miles of ocean.
City officials said the girl was located during an aerial search roughly a quarter mile from where she was swept away.
The tragedy played out as a powerful south swell battered the region’s beaches. Officials had warned that strong currents and large waves can pull swimmers into deep water within seconds—fast enough that the ocean’s danger can turn into a sudden emergency before anyone has time to react.
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