Overview
- The incident occurred on June 10 when two women were overtaken by unexpectedly large waves near the Keyhole between Panther Beach and Yellow Bank/Bonny Doon, and both later died.
- The victims were identified as 21-year-old Harshita Nair and 20-year-old Mahial Sran, longtime friends and students from Fremont who were described by relatives as ambitious and close.
- About eight lifeguards plus multiple fire and police units led the rescue; one woman was airlifted and the other was carried up a steep slope on a rescue stretcher before both were taken to hospitals.
- Officials and local rescuers say the Keyhole funnels water at rising tides and that unpredictable 'sneaker' waves during elevated Pacific swell can suddenly sweep people off the narrow rock opening.
- Santa Cruz County agencies have issued warnings for several coastal sections after this event, noting this was the fifth similar rescue on the roughly 1.6-kilometer stretch in a month and urging visitors to watch the surf and never turn their back on the ocean.