The girl was last seen on the beach in Laguna Beach, Calif., with her mother and sibling on Tuesday, June 9, when they were pulled into the water by a strong wave.

A lifeguard rescue boat cruises around the area where a child was swept out to sea near the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.Credit : Mindy Schauer/MediaNewsGroup/Orange County Register via Getty

Officials have found the body of a missing girl who was swept out to sea while at a California beach with her family.

“Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel responded to the location and recovered the decedent with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol,” a statement from Laguna Beach Marine Safety read. “The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division has positively identified the decedent as the missing adolescent swimmer reported on June 9, 2026. The victim’s family has been notified.”

The coroner’s office identified the victim as Amanda Mia Brown, reports NBC Los Angeles. Her father, Aaron Brown, described the 5-year-old as a “sweet little baby” who loved the beach and wasn’t afraid of the water.

“It’s sad this happened to her. She didn’t deserve it,” Aaron told the outlet.

The girl — who was last seen walking along Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach, Calif., before authorities received an emergency call about her being pulled into the water Tuesday evening, June 9 — was found during an early-morning aerial survey of the coastline on Thursday, June 11.

The girl’s body was spotted about 250 to 300 yards off the shore of Christmas Cove — about a quarter mile away from where she was first swept away by a strong wave, Laguna Beach Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond said in a press release shared with PEOPLE.

“Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel responded to the location and recovered the decedent with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol,” a statement from Laguna Beach Marine Safety read. “The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division has positively identified the decedent as the missing adolescent swimmer reported on June 9, 2026. The victim’s family has been notified.”

Laguna Beach lifeguards search the turbulent waters at below the Montage Resort where a girl was swept off the rocks by big waves on Tuesday, June 9.Don Leach / Los Angeles Times via Getty

The search efforts took place amid “challenging ocean conditions, including large surf, powerful currents, and limited underwater visibility,” Bond added.

The girl was last seen at the beach around 7:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, when she, her mother and her sibling were swept away by rough waters.

The mother and child were rescued by two people who saw them struggling in the water. Both were evaluated for injuries at a local hospital and have since been released.

“Their actions undoubtedly prevented further loss of life,” Bond said of the bystanders earlier this week.

The incident took place as high surf and dangerous rip currents were forecasted to impact Southern California beaches until Thursday night, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The National Weather Service also said it was anticipating a swell that could “generate surf of 4 to 7 feet with sets up to 9 feet along south-facing beaches” along with a “high rip current risk” for San Diego County and Orange County, Calif.

Laguna Beach also issued a high surf advisory warning amid the rough water conditions, citing “strong rip currents” that can “quickly pull swimmers away from shore, and large surf creates hazardous conditions for swimmers, surfers, and anyone near the water’s edge.”

“Elevated surf, strong rip currents, and hazardous ocean conditions are occurring along the coastline,” the city’s social media announcement read on Tuesday. “When in doubt, don’t go out. Only those with expert ocean experience should enter the water.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division is set to handle further information about the girl’s identity, as well as her cause and manner of death, Laguna Beach Marine Safety said.

SOURCE: https://people.com/officials-recover-body-of-missing-girl-who-was-swept-away-with-mom-and-sister-11996388