{"id":701737,"date":"2026-06-13T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/701737\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T13:00:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T13:00:18","slug":"tragic-new-detail-emerges-in-death-of-5-year-old-swept-out-to-sea-by-massive-wave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/701737\/","title":{"rendered":"Tragic new detail emerges in death of 5-year-old swept out to sea by massive wave"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 5-year-old San Bernardino girl who was swept out to sea by a massive wave<\/a> in Laguna Beach this week was set to start kindergarten later this summer, school officials said.<\/p>\n

Amada Mia Brown, who died after being caught in the powerful surf battering California\u2019s coast Tuesday night, was scheduled to begin kindergarten in the San Bernardino City Unified School District in August, Communications Manager Maria Garcia told The California Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe mourn Amada\u2019s loss and hold her family in our thoughts during this difficult time,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n

\"Amada<\/p>\n

Amada Mia Brown was killed after being sucked into the sea in Laguna on Tuesday. Tatiana Puerta\/gofundme<\/p>\n

Amada was also set to attend a new student orientation next month, Garcia added.<\/p>\n

The young girl vanished Tuesday evening after powerful waves pulled her, her mother and her brother into the ocean near the shoreline at Treasure Island Beach.<\/p>\n

Heroic bystanders who took to the rough water managed to rescue Amada\u2019s mother and brother, but Amada was carried out to sea.<\/p>\n

\"Tatiana<\/p>\n

Tatiana Puerta\/gofundme<\/p>\n

\"Tatiana<\/p>\n

Tatiana Puerta\/gofundme<\/p>\n

Two of those who\u00a0helped with the rescue were transported to a local hospital in stable condition with unspecified injuries.<\/p>\n

After Amada disappeared, the US Coast Guard and multiple partner agencies launched a massive search spanning more than 30 hours and 90 square miles.<\/p>\n

Video obtained by The California Post showed the frantic search<\/a> for the young girl Tuesday night as officials used high-powered flashlights from the shore and cliffside.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/p>\n

A massive search was launched after she went missing. Mindy Schauer\/The Orange County Register via AP<\/p>\n

The search was suspended Wednesday<\/a> after authorities concluded further efforts were unlikely to succeed.<\/p>\n

But on Thursday morning, a Laguna Beach Police Department aerial search located Amada\u2019s body about 250 to 300 yards offshore and roughly a quarter-mile north of where she was swept away.<\/p>\n

Amada\u2019s father, Aaron Brown, paid tribute to his daughter during a vigil following the discovery.<\/p>\n

\"Father<\/p>\n

Father Aaron Brown called Amada his \u201clittle princess.\u201d Facebook\/Eye Que<\/p>\n

He described her as a cheerful child who embraced life and loved being near the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe liked \u2018Moana,\u2019 she liked \u2018Frozen.\u2019 She was my little princess,\u201d he told ABC 7<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A online fundraiser posted to help Amada\u2019s family<\/a> had raised more than $12,000 by Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\"Amada\u2019s<\/p>\n

Amada\u2019s body was discoverred Thursday. Obtained by CA Post<\/p>\n

The same powerful storm swells that took Amada\u2019s life claimed another victim<\/a> in Santa Cruz County on Wednesday, officials there said.<\/p>\n

One person was confirmed killed and another remained in critical condition Friday afternoon after\u00a0being swept into the ocean at Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz<\/a>, a spokeswoman for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff confirmed.<\/p>\n