5-year-old swept away in Laguna Beach identified as family mourns
The family of a 5-year-old girl who vanished in rough surf off Laguna Beach mourned their loss Thursday as authorities recovered the body of Amada Mia Brown.
Amada’s father, Aaron Brown, remembered his daughter during a vigil held after the recovery.
Brown described Amada as a cheerful child who embraced life and loved being near the water.
“She liked ‘Moana,’ she liked ‘Frozen.’ She was my little princess,” he told ABC 7.
The body of the 5-year-old girl who was swept away into the ocean in Laguna Beach has been recovered. Tatiana Puerta/gofundme
Amada Mia Brown, a 5-year-old girl, poses for a photo. Tatiana Puerta/gofundme
A park ranger scans the ocean through binoculars from a cliff overlooking the water. Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP
“She’s just my sweet little baby,” he said. “She’s a bright child. She’s just 5 years old. She loved the beach… She was never afraid of the water.”
A Laguna Beach Marine Safety Officer in his Lifeguard vehicle speaks with beachgoers, alerting them about unsafe water conditions. Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP
Amada’s father, Aaron Brown, remembered his daughter during a vigil held after the recovery. Facebook/Eye Que
Amada disappeared Tuesday evening after powerful water conditions pulled her, her mother and her brother into the ocean near the shoreline.
Bystanders rushed into the water and managed to rescue the mother and the boy, but Amada was carried out to sea.
Two people who helped with the rescue effort were transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries.
Both were in stable condition.
Authorities confirmed her body was found after she was swept into the ocean near Treasure Island Beach earlier this week.
The US Coast Guard and multiple partner agencies launched an extensive search operation that stretched for more than 30 hours and covered over 90 square miles.
Search for missing Laguna Beach, CA child who was swept away by a wave the evening she went missing. Obtained by CA Post
The search was suspended Wednesday night after crews were unable to locate the girl.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the child’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Capt. Stacey Crecy, commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, said in a statement.
“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. We worked hand-in-hand with first responders in Laguna Beach to carry out a coordinated and thorough search of the area.”
Officials said dangerous ocean conditions remained in the area and warned that the hazardous surf could continue through Thursday, with the potential to pull people into deep water within seconds.
News
“THAT PHOTO CHANGED THE ENTIRE CONVERSATION.” 😳 Texas authorities have released a new image of Karmelo Anthony following his sentencing in the Austin Metcalf case 👀 👇 People are focusing on one small detail visible in the photo — and some say it tells a very different story than the courtroom testimony.
Texas releases new image of Karmelo Anthony, as he files notice of appeal Karmelo Anthony, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday. In a one-page document filed…
“I STILL HAVE THE VOICEMAIL…” A childhood friend says a 17-second message from James “Weston” Higginbotham is saved on an old phone, ending with the sound of Weston laughing before the call cuts off.
The laughter of a young man who embraced life with quiet enthusiasm can echo long after he is gone. For one childhood friend of James “Weston” Higginbotham, that echo lives on in a preserved 17-second voicemail — a casual message…
💔 “He still waved every time he drove by…” A longtime neighbor says the hardest part of losing James “Weston” Higginbotham is seeing the empty basketball hoop in the driveway where he used to stop and shoot 3 quick shots before heading inside
In the quiet suburban streets of Hoover, Alabama, daily routines carry the weight of memory now more than ever. For neighbors who watched James “Weston” Higginbotham grow from a bright-eyed boy into a thoughtful young man, the loss feels profoundly…
In 23 years of teaching, I’ve never forgotten a student like James ‘Weston’ Higginbotham…: A former teacher says Weston always sat in the same seat during first period, and nearly 8 years later, she still remembers the half-finished pencil sketch he left in the corner of his notebook
The quiet impact of a single student can linger in a classroom long after the final bell rings. For one veteran educator in Alabama, James “Weston” Higginbotham was that unforgettable presence. Described as thoughtful, creative, and deeply connected to the…
“WHERE WERE THESE 7 CHILDREN FOR 107 DAYS…?” Makala Pendley disappeared with her children in February and was eventually found in Mexico, but what horrified investigators were the final days before she appeared in that ditch…
The disappearance of Makala Pendley and her seven children from Indianapolis in late February 2026 sparked an intense search that stretched across borders and lasted more than three months. For 107 days, the family seemed to vanish without a trace,…
“WE WARNED HER…” A relative of Makala Pendley has just issued a striking statement following Joseph Butler Jr.’s arrest, but what has many people clicking to read is his unacceptable MOTIVE.
‘I’m sure it’s going to be a little rough’: Family speaks out after pregnant mother found dead in Mexico Relatives of Makala Pendley say she disappeared with her seven children in February. The children are currently under the care of…
End of content
No more pages to load
