Two college students have died after being pulled into the ocean by rising tides along a Santa Cruz County coastline, in what authorities say was a sudden and dangerous change in beach conditions.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both residents of Fremont, California.
The two friends had known each other since graduating from Washington High School in 2023 and were both pursuing degrees expected to be completed in 2027.
Academic Aspirations Cut Short
Nair was studying legal studies at the University of California, Berkeley, with ambitions of entering law and public service.
Friends and officials described her goals as centered on community support and expanding access to opportunity.
Sran was enrolled at San José State University, studying public health and psychology.
She was also involved in student activities, including participation in a Public Health Peer Ambassadors group that organized workshops and campus events focused on student engagement and wellbeing.
Believed to Have Been Swept From Keyhole Area
Authorities believe the two women were resting near a coastal formation known locally as a “keyhole” at Bonny Doon Beach when they were overtaken by incoming waves.
The area, officials say, can appear safe during low tide but becomes hazardous as water levels rise.
Volunteer fire captain Kyle Breton explained that the keyhole section can quickly become dangerous, particularly when people attempt to cross it to reach nearby stretches of shoreline such as Yellow Bank Beach, only to become trapped when tides shift unexpectedly.
Dangerous Surf Conditions and Rescue Efforts
Bonny Doon Beach and surrounding areas are known for steep surf zones and strong currents that can create unpredictable and hazardous ocean conditions.
On the day of the incident, first responders from the Santa Cruz Fire Department and California State Parks deployed multiple rescue swimmers in an attempt to locate the missing students.
According to officials, one victim was recovered near Yellow Bank Beach while the other was found closer to Panther Beach.
Both were transported to nearby hospitals after being pulled from the water.
Nair was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Sran remained in critical condition for several days before dying on Saturday.
Repeat Warnings Over Coastal Dangers
Local ocean rescue teams have reported multiple incidents in the same coastal stretch in recent weeks, noting that at least five rescues had been conducted along the roughly one-mile area between Yellow Bank and Bonny Doon Beach in the past month.
The National Weather Service has warned that long-period ocean swells can intensify rip currents and produce sudden “sneaker waves,” which are difficult to predict and can sweep people off shorelines without warning.
Authorities continue to urge beachgoers to avoid unstable shoreline formations, stay clear of water-adjacent structures, and remain alert to ocean conditions, emphasizing the importance of never turning one’s back to the sea.
