Two Bay Area college students have died after being swept into the ocean along a remote stretch of Santa Cruz County coastline, highlighting growing concerns about dangerous surf conditions and hidden hazards at unguarded beaches. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office identified the victims as Harshita Nair, 21, a UC Berkeley student, and Mahial Sran, 20, a San José State University student.
Both were from Fremont and graduates of Washington High School. The pair were pulled from the water on June 10 after a large rescue response near Panther Beach and Yellow Bank Beach, but later died from their injuries.
Rescue crews say the incident unfolded quickly as tides rose along a stretch of coastline already flagged for hazardous ocean conditions. Emergency responders were called just after 5 p.m.
to reports of people in the water near Bonny Doon Beach, north of Santa Cruz. By the time crews arrived, both individuals were already in distress.
About eight rescue swimmers entered the water and located both victims—one was brought to shore at Panther Beach and the other at nearby Yellow Bank Beach before being transported to hospitals. Authorities believe the women were near or passing through a narrow rock opening known locally as the "keyhole," which connects Panther Beach to Yellow Bank Beach.
That formation is a well-known hazard. "The tides come in, and in this case, they swept out two patients," Santa Cruz County fire officials told KTLA TV.
Officials said the tide likely rose quickly, cutting off access and leaving the women exposed to strong surf and currents—a scenario rescuers say is increasingly common along that stretch of coast. Yellow Bank Beach is considered one of the more dangerous and isolated beaches along the Santa Cruz County coast, not because of crowds, but because of geography.
Risks include limited access through the keyhole, which becomes impassable at high tide, rapidly rising tides that can swallow the narrow beach, sneaker waves and long-period swell that rush far up the sand, strong rip currents, and steep cliffs that make escape difficult. Officials warn that the layout creates a deceptive sense of safety, with calm conditions that can suddenly turn dangerous.
The tragedy is part of a recent spike in water incidents along the Santa Cruz coastline. At least five ocean rescues were reported in a one-mile stretch between Yellow Bank Beach and Bonny Doon Beach in the previous month alone—far above normal levels.
Rescuers also responded to back-to-back water emergencies the same day in Santa Cruz, including incidents involving rip currents at other beaches. Officials attribute the rise in emergencies to a combination of large south swells, warmer weather, and increased beach traffic.
The National Weather Service has issued repeated beach hazard statements warning of elevated surf, sneaker waves, and unpredictable conditions along the California coast. Authorities urge beachgoers to stay well above the high tide line, never turn their backs on the ocean, avoid entering caves or enclosed coves during changing tides, check tide charts and surf forecasts, and swim only near lifeguard-protected beaches.