The body of 5-year-old Amada Mia Brown was recovered Thursday after she was swept into the ocean in Laguna Beach, California, during hazardous surf conditions.
Amada, who was from San Bernardino, was with her mother and sibling near Treasure Island Beach when a powerful wave pulled them into the water on Tuesday evening, June 9, 2026.
Bystanders were able to rescue the mother and sibling, but Amada was carried out to sea. Authorities launched a large search involving Laguna Beach Marine Safety, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Officials said an aerial search by the Laguna Beach Police Department led to the discovery Thursday morning. The body was spotted about 250 to 300 yards offshore near Christmas Cove.
Christmas Cove is about one-quarter mile north of the area where Amada was first swept into the ocean. Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel recovered the body with help from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division later confirmed the victim’s identity.
The search stretched across nearly 30 hours and covered a wide area of ocean and coastline. Crews faced large surf, strong currents and poor underwater visibility.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday night after crews searched through the night and into the following evening. Capt. Stacey Crecy, commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, offered condolences to Amada’s family.
The National Weather Service had warned of dangerous surf and rip currents along Southern California beaches. Waves in the region reportedly reached up to 10 feet during the search period.
Laguna Beach officials described the incident as one of the city’s most heartbreaking recent tragedies. Mayor Mark Orgill offered condolences to Amada’s family, friends and everyone affected by the loss.
The mother and sibling who were pulled from the water were treated after the incident. Officials said the bystanders who entered the surf helped prevent further loss of life.
Authorities urged beachgoers to avoid dangerous surf and pay close attention to local warnings. Marine safety officials said people should stay out of the water unless they are strong, experienced ocean swimmers during high-surf conditions.
Rip currents can pull swimmers away from shore quickly, even when the water looks manageable from the beach. The National Weather Service advises people caught in a rip current not to fight it directly, but to float, call for help and swim parallel to shore when possible.
For Amada’s family, the recovery ends the search but not the grief. The tragedy has left the Laguna Beach community mourning a young child lost during a dangerous evening at the shore.