Overview
- Emergency crews recovered two women from the water about 5 p.m. on Wednesday after rising tides swept them from a narrow coastal access between Yellow Bank Beach and Panther Beach.
- The victims were identified as Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both Fremont residents and college students; Nair died shortly after the rescue and Sran died days later in hospital.
- Cal Fire, state lifeguards, Santa Cruz fire units and the sheriff’s office deployed about eight rescue swimmers and used a hoist helicopter and a Stokes basket during the complex operation.
- Officials say a long-period southern swell raised the risk of sneaker waves and rip currents and that this rescue was the fifth along a one-mile stretch between Yellow Bank and Bonny Doon beaches in roughly a month.
- Investigations and after-action reviews are ongoing as officials reiterate beach-safety warnings and family and witness statements dispute early accounts about whether the women were sleeping when they were swept away.