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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
