Search continues for teen after mother, children swept into ocean in Laguna Beach amid dangerous surf

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. () — A mother and her two children were swept away into the ocean in Laguna Beach as a powerful swell creates dangerous conditions in Orange County and other Southern California coastal areas. One of the children, a teenage girl, remains missing.

The city’s Marine Safety Department responded to a 911 call about multiple swimmers in distress near Treasure Island Beach around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Officials say a mother and her two children were swept into the ocean by powerful water conditions near the shoreline.

Bystanders jumped into action and managed to rescue the mother and one of her children. A teenage girl remains missing.

Video posted to social media shows the search efforts that quickly ensued, with first responders and boats in the water and helicopters circling overhead.

Laguna Beach Marine Safety personnel called off their search and recovery operation for the girl Wednesday evening and will transition to ongoing monitoring of offshore and shoreline areas, the city said in a statement. The Coast Guard will continue searching.

Officials urged the general public to think twice before getting into the water. If you are not an expert swimmer, lifeguards say you should stay out of the water and stay safe on the sand.

Two of the bystanders who helped in the rescue were taken to the hospital in stable condition. Officials say the mother and brother of the missing teen are also in stable condition.

Massive swell brings historic waves

Many of the region’s south-facing beaches are expected to have 5-to 8-foot waves, with high sets on tap at spots like Newport Beach’s The Wedge, the world-famous surf break located at the southernmost tip of the Balboa Peninsula.

At The Wedge, the powerful south swell delivered historic sets on Tuesday with waves peaking at over 20 feet.

Meanwhile, video out of Malibu shows powerful waves crashing along the sand overnight.