The body of a girl who was swept into the ocean near Laguna Beach during dangerously high surf was recovered Thursday after being spotted from the air near Christmas Cove. The Orange County coroner identified her, her family was notified, and the community rem
Dangerously high surf turned into a search that stretched through the night—until Thursday afternoon, when the missing girl was found.
Her body was recovered after being spotted during an aerial coastline survey at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday near Christmas Cove, roughly a quarter-mile from where she was initially lost at Treasure Island Beach, the city of Laguna Beach said in a news release.
Laguna Beach Marine Safety responded with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol. The Orange County coroner’s office identified the girl and notified her family.
The girl went missing Tuesday night near Treasure Island Beach after she. her mother. and her brother were pulled into the ocean. The disappearance triggered a frantic and widespread 24-hour search. with crews from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard joining the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department. Search efforts were called off Wednesday night, leaving the community reeling.
Mayor Mark Orgill said the recovery came after days of heartbreak and uncertainty. In a statement issued when the search was first called off, he expressed sympathy for the girl’s family.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking incidents I have witnessed during my time serving this community. ” Orgill said in the statement. “Our hearts go out to the young victim’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss. On behalf of the Laguna Beach community. I extend our deepest condolences and want the family to know they are in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginably difficult time.”.
A surf advisory for the area was set to expire Thursday, but risks remained. Brian O’Rourke, the chief lifeguard in Newport Beach, said big surf was still expected beyond Thursday.
“We still have big surf in Southern California, and especially in Newport Beach and it’s down a bit from yesterday, but we can expect big surf through today and actually through the weekend,” O’Rourke said.
The timeline—from Tuesday night’s disappearance to the Thursday aerial discovery near Christmas Cove—underscores how quickly conditions can overwhelm people along the coastline. For the family, the outcome is final. For the rest of the community. the days that follow will carry the weight of what the ocean took—and what rescuers searched for through the hardest hours of the week.
Laguna Beach Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol U.S. Coast Guard Laguna Beach Marine Safety Christmas Cove Treasure Island Beach surf advisory missing girl found
How is this even possible like the waves are always crazy there. So sad.
They found her from the air near Christmas Cove but she was first at Treasure Island Beach right? I don’t get how far that is, doesn’t sound like a quarter-mile to me.
That part about they pulled into the ocean with her mom and brother… so was it like a rip current thing or did everyone just get swept? I feel like they called off the search way too fast Wednesday night too.
People always ignore surf advisories until something happens. Like I’m not saying it’s the victim’s fault but come on, high surf was going on. Also “through the weekend”?? means they knew it was gonna be bad again, so why are we surprised when this happens.