Lifeguards were searching for a young child who was swept into the ocean by big surf late Tuesday evening, June 9, off Laguna Beach.
Wednesday evening, the searches intended to keep looking until at least sundown.
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The girl, a sibling and their mother were walking along the sand at Treasure Island Beach, when a large wave swept them into the ocean, Laguna Beach Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond said.
Two bystanders attempted to pull all three family members out of the water, successfully rescuing two — but the girl was not found, he said. She was reported missing at 7:30 p.m.
The search lasted through the evening and continued into Wednesday, June 10. The Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Harbor Patrol, and the U.S. Coast Guard were involved in the search.
“We kept resources on scene to search the area,” Bond said. “The conditions are incredibly difficult with surf size and clarity.”
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. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Waves crash on the rocks at Christmas Cove Beach in Laguna on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, as lifeguards were kept busy warning people that they could not go into the dangerous surf.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Laguna Beach Marine Safety Officer Avery Wickham breaks the news to beach-goers that they will not be allowed into the water because of dangerous conditions at the beach near Montage Resort on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Laguna Beach Park Ranger scans the horizon on
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, near where a child was swept out to sea yeaterday. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A lifeguard tells beachgoers to stay out of the water on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Laguna Beach near where a child was swept out to sea yesterday. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Children stop digging in the sand to glimpse a crashing wave in Laguna Beach on on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. They are on the same beach where a child was swept out to sea yesterday. Lifeguards prevented beachgoers from going into the dangerous surf. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lifeguards were kept busy in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, as they warned unsuspecting swimmers not to go into the dangerous surf. A lone wader is soon told to get out of the water. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Waves crash on the rocks near Christmas Cove Beach in Laguna on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, as lifeguards were kept busy warning people not go into the dangerous surf.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Journey Hidalgo, 17, left, and her sister, Kalea Hidalgo, 21, drove from Riverside to see the big waves in Laguna Beach on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Lifeguards prevented beachgoers from going into the harsh surf at the same beach near Montage Resort, where yesterday a child was swept out to sea. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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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. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two bystanders — it was unclear if they were the ones who rescued the mom and the other child — were treated.
Surf conditions remain hazardous and beachgoers, no matter their ability, should use extreme caution or stay out of the ocean through at least Thursday, June 11, officials said.
The family was visiting from outside the area, Bond said, and were at the north end of Treasure Island Beach, close to Table Rock Beach. That stretch is known for strong rip currents.
Last year, three San Clemente surfers and several Laguna Beach lifeguards rescued a woman walking on the beach in the same general area after she was swept out to sea.
“This is some of the (largest) south swell we’ve seen in a while; we’ve seen surf as big or bigger than 10 feet,” Bond said. “The ocean is dangerous — this is such a tragedy. Our hearts are literally hurting for this family.”
Drones were deployed.
“Along with other air resources, we’ve been able to fly drones overhead to get an eye on the area,” he said Wednesday morning. “And, likely, we’re expanding the search. We’ve been searching Treasure Island most of the night, and now we need to shift tactics and search adjacent beaches and possibly (go) citywide. …
“We’re essentially in recovery mode, but we still hold out hope,” Bond said.