The search for a girl who was swept into the ocean with her family in Orange County expanded on Wednesday, after searches overnight and into the morning off the Laguna Beach coast were unsuccessful.
On Tuesday around 7:30 p.m., the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department responded to a call about swimmers in distress. People nearby sprang into action and were able to rescue the mother and her son, but the boy’s sister remains missing, authorities said.
“A large wave came up and pulled them into the ocean,” Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond said. “We’re walking down every avenue possible to locate [her].”
After searchers initially looked around Treasure Island Beach, the search area grew on Wednesday, Bond said. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Coast Guard are assisting in the effort. More than 30 people are involved and also searching underwater and from the air, he said.
The incident occurred while much of the Southern California coastline is experiencing dangerous conditions.
According to the National Weather Service, a high surf advisory is in effect in Catalina, the Santa Barbara islands, the Malibu Coast and all Los Angeles County beaches. Hazardous beach conditions exist for the San Diego and Orange County coastlines through Thursday afternoon.
“The winter storms that they have in the South Pacific generate elevated swells and especially long-period elevated swells, and those swells make it to coastal Southern California,” said Philip Gonsalves, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
Gonsalves explained that these events occur at least once or twice every summer. He said that the best way people can stay safe is by staying out of the surf zones and off the jetties. People may be curious and want to see the big waves, but they take a big risk in doing so.
“Not only can a wave break over rocks and drag you into the water, but it will also drag you out beyond the surf zone,” Gonsalves said.
1. A sheriff’s helicopter searches the shoreline and beach below the Montage Resort, where a girl was swept off the rocks by big waves in Laguna Beach on Tuesday. 2. Laguna Beach lifeguards search the turbulent waters near the Montage Resort, where a girl was swept off the rocks by big waves in Laguna Beach on Tuesday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)
The high surf is drawing crowds to places such as the Wedge in Newport Beach, where waves this week have reportedly reached as high as 20 feet, and also creating a bigger workload for local first responders.
Newport Beach’s chief lifeguard, Brian O’Rourke, told The Times that on Tuesday alone, his department made 105 rescues.
“We’re fully staffed; educating the public on the conditions and preventing things the best we can, and then responding,” O’Rourke said.
He also said that there haven’t been any serious injuries at this point, but his advice to the public is to always speak with a lifeguard before going into the water.
Newport Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Ure told The Times that staffing is increased at all of the lifeguard towers, and that his personnel are properly trained to handle the atmospheric conditions.
“We have multiple people able to go, and they’ll coordinate with the other patrol units,” Ure said.