A desperate search turned into a recovery effort Wednesday after a 5-year-old girl was swept into the ocean along with her mother and brother during dangerous surf conditions at a Southern California beach.
The incident unfolded around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Treasure Island Beach in Laguna Beach, where authorities say a mother and her two children were caught by dangerous water conditions near the shoreline.
According to Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill, the family was walking on the sand when a large wave suddenly surged and swept all three into the water.
People nearby rushed to help and managed to pull the mother and her son from the ocean.
The young girl, however, disappeared in the surf and remained missing Wednesday.
Search crews from Laguna Beach Marine Safety, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol, and the United States Coast Guard continued combing the area.
Aerial footage showed rescue personnel in the water around 8 a.m.
Orgill told CBS LA the operation eventually shifted from a rescue effort to a recovery mission.
Two bystanders who assisted in rescuing the mother and boy were taken to a local hospital with unspecified injuries. Officials said both were in stable condition.
Authorities have not released additional details.
The tragedy comes as a powerful storm system offshore has created hazardous ocean conditions along the coast. The National Weather Service issued a Beach Hazards Statement that remains in effect through Thursday night as wave heights continue to increase.
Hours before the incident, the City of Laguna Beach posted a warning on Instagram about the dangerous beach conditions.
“Strong rip currents can quickly pull swimmers away from shore, and large surf creates hazardous conditions for swimmers, surfers, and anyone near the water’s edge,” the post’s caption says.
