As nightfall took over the Orange County coastline Wednesday, officials ended the search and recovery effort for a 5-year-old girl swept away by powerful waves in Laguna Beach waters.
Search and rescue crews spent the day scouring the waters off Treasure Island Beach by air and sea before concluding active operations Wednesday evening.
Family members who gathered near the shoreline appeared devastated as they watched the search come up empty.
Laguna Beach Marine Safety crews responded around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to reports of multiple swimmers in distress at the beach. Authorities said a mother and her two children were swept into the ocean by powerful currents. Bystanders rushed into the water and rescued the mother and one child, but a second young girl remains unaccounted for…