Bystanders rescued the girl’s mother and brother as search teams expanded efforts off Treasure Island Beach.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Search crews continued looking for a teenage girl Thursday after powerful surf swept her, her mother and her brother into the ocean near Treasure Island Beach on Tuesday evening, city officials said.
The search has drawn Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard as large waves and strong currents keep hitting the Southern California coast. The girl’s name and exact age have not been released. Her mother and brother were rescued by bystanders and were reported stable.
The emergency began at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the Laguna Beach Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call about several swimmers in distress near Treasure Island Beach. Officials said the family had been near the shoreline when powerful water conditions pulled all three into the ocean. Two bystanders entered the water and reached the mother and one child. Laguna Beach Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond said the bystanders’ actions “undoubtedly prevented further loss of life.” The adolescent girl could not be reached and remained missing as rescue crews searched the area where she was last seen.
Two bystanders who helped in the rescue were evaluated at the scene and taken by the Laguna Beach Fire Department to a hospital in stable condition. The city later said both had been treated and released. One rescuer also had to be saved by a city lifeguard after entering surf that officials said was reaching about 10 feet. The mother and her rescued child were also evaluated and later released from a hospital. Officials have not said whether the family lives in Orange County or was visiting the beach.
Crews searched the immediate area near Treasure Island Beach and then widened the search zone beyond the girl’s last known location. Bond said searchers used divers, rescue vessels and air resources while checking adjacent beaches and offshore areas. City officials said the expanded search did not mean the effort had been reduced. Instead, they said crews were moving resources based on ocean conditions, currents, wave action and drift modeling. The city said searchers faced large surf, powerful currents and limited underwater visibility throughout the operation.
The incident happened during a high surf event along parts of Southern California. South and southwest-facing beaches saw some of the largest waves, with forecasters pointing to long-period swells generated by winter storms in the Southern Hemisphere. In Orange County, where Laguna Beach is located, surf had peaked near 10 feet, while many Southern California beaches were expected to see waves of 5 to 8 feet through Thursday night. At Newport Beach’s Wedge, local reports described much larger sets from the same swell.
The city said the dedicated search and recovery operation would continue through daylight hours Wednesday. If no recovery was made before darkness, officials said the coordinated operation would be suspended when visibility no longer allowed crews to search safely and effectively. Even after a dedicated operation ends, Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel and partner agencies were expected to keep monitoring the shoreline and nearby waters during regular public safety patrols. No criminal investigation or court proceeding had been announced.
Images from the beach showed lifeguard boats, helicopters and officers searching along the shoreline near the Montage Resort area, above Treasure Island Beach. A park ranger scanned the horizon Wednesday as beachgoers watched the heavy surf. Laguna Beach Marine Safety Officer Avery Wickham was seen telling people they could not enter the water because of dangerous conditions. Visitors who came to see the large waves described the scene as tense as rescue crews worked offshore and along the sand.
As of Thursday, officials had not announced that the missing girl had been found. The next public update was expected from Laguna Beach officials or assisting agencies if search conditions changed or recovery crews made a new finding.
Author note: Last updated June 11, 2026.