Laguna Beach officials confirmed Thursday that the body of a five-year-old girl who was swept out to sea near Treasure Island Beach on Tuesday evening has been found, ending a search that spanned 90 square miles over nearly 30 hours.
The girl, her mother, and her brother were walking along the shore around dusk Tuesday when a wave surged onto the beach, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as reported by ABC News. Two bystanders rushed into the water and pulled the mother and son to safety, but the girl was carried away by the powerful current.
An aerial search team spotted a body along the shoreline Thursday morning approximately a quarter-mile north of the location where the child was last seen. Laguna Beach authorities positively identified the remains as belonging to the missing girl, and the family has been notified of the recovery.
Officials said rescue crews faced challenging conditions during the search, including poor underwater visibility and powerful currents that hampered efforts.
Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill extended his condolences, according to a statement reported by The Guardian. “This is one of the most heartbreaking incidents I have witnessed during my time serving this community,” Orgill said.
The National Weather Service issued a high-risk rip current warning for Orange County beaches on Wednesday, noting the hazardous conditions were expected to persist through Thursday evening. Kai Bond, the city’s marine safety chief, warned beachgoers to exercise caution in a video message Tuesday. “Please know that when you come to the beach that you need to understand your abilities,” Bond said. “And if you’re not an expert, you need to stay out of the water.” Bond said swells of up to 10 feet had been observed in the area.
The incident echoed other deadly surf-related tragedies along the California coastline. MSI previously reported that powerful swells during the King Tide event in early January killed one person in Santa Barbara and caused severe flooding across Northern California in a separate drowning event.