The body of a child who had gone missing after being swept into the ocean in California has been located, as confirmed by the city of Laguna Beach. This discovery was made on June 11, 2026, following an aerial survey by the Laguna Beach Police Department which suggested a possible identification of an adolescent female who was taken by the waves near Treasure Island Beach a couple of days prior.
The body was found approximately 250 to 300 yards offshore from Christmas Cove, which is about a quarter-mile from where she was initially swept into the sea. Marine Safety Officers from Laguna Beach, aided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol, retrieved the deceased.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by the family, expressing their heartbreak: “With unimaginable sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Amada Mia Brown. At just 5 years old, her presence brought joy wherever she went. She was a vibrant little girl, whose laughter illuminated the lives of everyone around her.” The family’s message acknowledges the tragedy that unfolded on June 9, highlighting their immense loss, but also their gratitude for having closure.
According to early reports, a mother and her two young children were caught in strong currents. Thankfully, bystanders acted quickly to rescue the mother and one child, but tragically, Amada was not among them.
The girl’s father, Aaron Brown, mentioned that the situation was simply an unfortunate accident, noting, “She was just having a fun day with her kids, but the waves were too powerful.” The search operation was officially concluded after the body was found, with the U.S. Coast Guard having suspended its efforts the previous night.
In light of the tragedy, Col. Stacey Cressy, commander of the Los Angeles-Long Beach Coast Guard, expressed condolences to the family, emphasizing the challenging decision to cease search operations. He noted that all available assets had been deployed to search throughout the night until sunset on June 10, working in coordination with local responders.
As of that date, the focused effort for the recovery of the young girl, who had gone missing from Treasure Island Beach, has ended, marking a deeply sorrowful moment for the community.
