Search teams have recovered the body of a 5-year-old girl who was swept into powerful surf off Laguna Beach on Tuesday. The girl, who was pulled into the water with her mother and sibling as they were walking on Treasure Island Beach, was located during an early Thursday morning aerial survey, according to authorities.
The sighting was about 250 to 300 yards offshore of Christmas Cove, approximately a quarter-mile north of where she was swept into the water. The body was recovered by Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol.
The coroner's office identified the girl as the one reported missing on Tuesday. Authorities initially received a 911 call at about 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday regarding a woman and her two children in need of help in the water near Treasure Island Beach. The mother and sibling were rescued by witnesses, who jumped into the water and were taken to a hospital for evaluation and later released.
"Their actions undoubtedly prevented further loss of life," the city of Newport Beach said. Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel began searching for the young girl Tuesday night.
"Based on preliminary information, a mother and her two children were swept into the ocean by powerful water conditions while near the shoreline," the agency said in a news release. In a statement Wednesday morning, authorities said the search was expanding beyond the victim's last known location at Treasure Island Beach.
The strategy was changed based on prevailing ocean conditions, currents, wave action and drift modeling, according to Laguna Beach Marine Safety. The Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol and the United States Coast Guard later joined the effort to find the girl.
Rip current warnings were issued on a day of high surf along the Southern California coast. Swells arrived Tuesday and built throughout the day.
A Beach Hazards Statement issued by the National Weather Service warned of increasing wave heights and rip currents that can quickly pull a swimmer away from shore.