Coroner IDs Drowning Victim From Thousand Steps Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Orange County lifeguards recovered the body of a girl who drowned near Thousand Steps Beach Wednesday evening, police said.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified the victim as 16-year-old Juliet Jung of Los Angeles.

Two swimmers, including Juliet Jung, were caught in choppy waves near the sea cave shortly before 5 p.m., Laguna Beach Police Lt. Cornelius Ashton said.

"The lifeguards were able to rescue one but couldn't rescue the other," he told The Orange County Register. Waves Wednesday afternoon were 3 to 4 feet tall when the girl disappeared from view. Helicopters from the Orange County Sheriff's Department and sheriff's harbor patrol circled the area, in an attempt to locate her. She was recovered at 6 p.m. by the OC Lifeguard team and brought to shore where the Orange County Coroner took her body.

During the incident and recovery, the area of South Coast Highway at 9th Avenue was closed to traffic until well after 6 p.m., according to officials.