Near-Drowning Survival Story
California woman survives near-drowning after being swept out to sea in Laguna Beach
Teresa Tran, a 49-year-old California mother, nearly drowned and suffered a heart attack when powerful waves swept her into the ocean at Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach on Saturday, August 15. WDTV reported that lifeguards rescued the unconscious Tran after she was pulled under by successive waves while walking with friends. The incident occurred just a few hundred yards from where a 5-year-old girl drowned two months earlier in the same volatile stretch of coast.
Tran vomited seawater and regained consciousness on the beach before being airlifted to Mission Hospital. WOWT reported that her daughter launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $10,000 to cover medical and airlift bills. The back-to-back tragedies at Laguna Beach have renewed warnings about the dangers of high surf and rip currents along Southern California's coast.
Three Waves Knocked Her Underwater
High surf blindsided Tran and her group as they walked on the sand. WSMV reported that three consecutive waves knocked them to their knees before pulling Tran into a rip current. She was unable to fight the water's pull any longer and lost consciousness. Lifeguards pulled her from the ocean unresponsive, her heart stopped from the stress of nearly drowning.
On the beach, Tran's pulse was faint. Lifeguards worked to revive her. She began vomiting seawater and slowly regained consciousness before paramedics airlifted her to the hospital. KWCH reported that her daughter Amanda Trinh said her mother is now "horrified" by water and unlikely to visit a beach again.
A Similar Tragedy Just Two Months Prior
In June 2026, a 5-year-old girl named Amada Mia Brown was swept into the ocean at Treasure Island Beach, just a quarter-mile away. WBBJTV reported that rescue teams conducted a 30-hour search covering 90 square miles. Authorities recovered her body near Christmas Cove on June 11. Her father, Aaron Brown, remembered her as "a sweet little baby" who "loved the beach."
The two incidents highlight the extreme danger along this stretch of Laguna Beach. KPLCTV reported that the National Weather Service had issued high rip current warnings during both the June and August events. Coastal swells reached up to 10 feet. Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill called the June drowning "one of the most heartbreaking incidents" he had witnessed.
Experts Warn About 'Sneaker Waves' and Rip Currents
Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond warned beachgoers to "understand your abilities" when visiting Laguna Beach. WAFB reported that experienced surfers and lifeguards stressed the "never turn your back on the ocean" rule. Sneaker waves can catch even cautious shore-walkers off guard without warning. The steep shoreline at both beaches makes walking near the water dangerous during high swells.
Some community members questioned why hazardous zones were not entirely closed with visible warning flags during extreme conditions. KKTV reported that local authorities face pressure to increase beach patrols and restrict access during high-surf advisories. Tran's GoFundMe raised $2,422 in its first few days toward the $10,000 goal for her medical costs.
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