Tragic Discovery: Body of 5-year-old Swept Out to Sea Found
WHO:
NY Post - Amada Mia Brown, age 5, was set to begin kindergarten in the San Bernardino City Unified School District in August.
Los Angeles Times - The child was identified as Amada Mia Brown of San Bernardino.
NBC News - Amada’s father, Aaron Brown, described her as “full of life and a sweet little baby.”
TMZ - The missing child was a 5-year-old girl.
NBC News - Officials confirmed the recovery of the child's body.
WHAT:
ABC7 Los Angeles - The body was discovered during an early Thursday morning aerial search, approximately 250-300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The search for the girl lasted more than 30 hours and covered over 90 square miles.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The girl's body was discovered during an early Thursday morning aerial search, 250-300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove, which is located about one-quarter mile north of the area where she was initially swept into the ocean.
NBC News - Capt. Stacey Crecy, commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, stated, "Suspending a search is an extremely difficult decision. We launched assets and responded as quickly as possible, continuously searching throughout the night and until sunset on June 10, 2026."
ABC7 Los Angeles - The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for the girl after more than 30 hours of searching over 90 square miles.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The girl's body was discovered 250-300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove, about one-quarter mile north of where she was initially swept into the ocean.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The powerful south swell delivered historic sets on Tuesday with waves peaking at over 20 feet at The Wedge in Newport Beach.
NBC News - The girl's disappearance sparked a frantic and widespread 24-hour search.
NBC News - Crews from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard were called in, alongside the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department.
NBC News - Search efforts were called off Wednesday night.
Los Angeles Times - Amada's body was spotted during an aerial coastline survey about 1:30 p.m. near Christmas Cove, approximately a quarter of a mile from where she was lost.
TMZ - The body of the 5-year-old girl was recovered after being swept into the Pacific Ocean.
NBC News - The body was found, ending a search that lasted nearly two days.
NY Post - The girl was swept away by a rogue wave.
WHERE:
NBC News - The incident occurred at Laguna Beach, California.
NY Post - The search took place in Southern California waters near Laguna Beach.
WHEN:
NBC News - The body was recovered on a Thursday.
NY Post - The search began on a Tuesday night.
WHY:
Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill - Expressed sympathy for the girl’s family when the search was first called off, stating, “This is one of the most heartbreaking incidents I have witnessed during my time serving this community.”
Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill - Expressed that this incident is “one of the most heartbreaking” he has witnessed during his time serving the community.
NY Post - The girl was swept away due to a powerful surf and a rogue wave.
HOW:
ABC7 Los Angeles - Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel recovered the body with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol.
ABC7 Los Angeles - Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel responded to the location and recovered the decedent with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol.
ABC7 Los Angeles - Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel recovered the body with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol.
Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard, Brian O’Rourke - Stated that a surf advisory for the area was set to expire Thursday, but risks still remain, noting, “We still have big surf in Southern California... and we can expect big surf through today and actually through the weekend.”
Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard, Brian O’Rourke - Stated that big surf conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.
NY Post - Rescuers conducted a nighttime search for the missing girl.
(UPDATED June 13, 2026 01:43 UTC)
A five-year-old girl named Amada Mia Brown, who was set to start kindergarten in the San Bernardino City Unified School District in August, has tragically been found deceased. Her body was discovered during an aerial search early Thursday morning, approximately 250 to 300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove, after a search that lasted over 30 hours and covered more than 90 square miles. Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel, with help from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol, were involved in the recovery of her body.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 17:50 UTC)
A girl's body was found during an aerial search about 250 to 300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove, which is roughly a quarter mile north of where she was initially swept into the ocean. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach Commander Capt. Stacey Crecy expressed the difficulty of suspending a search, noting that they had launched assets and searched continuously throughout the night and until sunset on June 10, 2026. Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel, with help from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol, responded to the scene and recovered the decedent.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 12:07 UTC)
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a girl after more than 30 hours of efforts covering over 90 square miles. Tragically, her body was found 250 to 300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove, about a quarter mile north of where she was initially swept into the ocean. The recovery was carried out by Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel with help from the Orange County Sheriff's Department Harbor Patrol, as powerful south swells delivered historic sets with waves peaking at over 20 feet at The Wedge in Newport Beach.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 08:23 UTC)
A frantic and widespread search for a missing girl has concluded after crews from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department were unable to locate her. Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill expressed deep sympathy for the girl's family, calling the incident one of the most heartbreaking he has witnessed in his time serving the community. Meanwhile, Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard, Brian O’Rourke, warned that despite a surf advisory set to expire soon, significant surf conditions will continue through the weekend, posing ongoing risks.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 06:30 UTC)
A tragic incident has unfolded as the body of a child, identified as Amada Mia Brown from San Bernardino, was discovered during an aerial coastline survey near Christmas Cove, about a quarter of a mile from where she was lost. Her father, Aaron Brown, described her as “full of life and a sweet little baby,” while Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill expressed that this is “one of the most heartbreaking” events he has witnessed in his time serving the community. Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard, Brian O’Rourke, noted that big surf conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 01:45 UTC)
The body of a missing 5-year-old girl was recovered after she was swept into the Pacific Ocean by a rogue wave at Laguna Beach, California. Officials confirmed the recovery, which ended a nearly two-day search that began on a Tuesday night and involved rescuers conducting efforts in Southern California waters. Tragically, the powerful surf and unexpected wave led to this heartbreaking incident.