The search for the Laguna Beach girl swept away during dangerously high surf this week has come to a heartbreaking end, with crews recovering her body on Thursday after a frantic, 24-hour effort.

A Painful Discovery

The girl’s body was spotted around 1:30 p.m. Thursday during an aerial survey of the coastline near Christmas Cove, about a quarter-mile from where she was initially lost at Treasure Island Beach, the city announced in a news release.

Laguna Beach Marine Safety responded to the scene with help from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol. The Orange County coroner’s office identified her as the missing victim, and her family has been notified.

How the Tragedy Unfolded

The girl vanished near Treasure Island Beach on Tuesday night when she, her mother, and her brother were pulled into the ocean. Her disappearance triggered a sweeping, around-the-clock search.

Crews from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard joined the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department in scouring the area. Despite the intense effort, search operations were suspended Wednesday night before resuming and ultimately leading to Thursday’s recovery.

A Community in Mourning

The loss has shaken the Laguna Beach community. When the search was first called off, Mayor Mark Orgill released a statement expressing deep sympathy for the girl’s family.

He described the incident as one of the most heartbreaking he had witnessed during his time serving the community, extending the city’s condolences and assuring the family they were in everyone’s thoughts during such an unimaginably difficult time.

Dangerous Surf Still a Threat

While a surf advisory for the area was set to expire Thursday, experts warned that the danger has not passed.

Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard, Brian O’Rourke, cautioned that large surf continues to pound Southern California, particularly around Newport Beach. Although conditions had eased slightly from the previous day, he said big surf was expected to persist through Thursday and into the weekend.

For now, the recovery brings a measure of closure to a grieving family, even as officials urge beachgoers to remain cautious along a coastline that has already turned tragic.