Two women tragically lost their lives after being swept out to sea while napping on Panther Beach in Santa Cruz, California. The incident occurred around 5pm local time on Wednesday, June 10, when the tide unexpectedly caught them off guard. Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Capt. Kyle Breton confirmed the unfortunate event.
Multiple agencies, including Cal Fire, Santa Cruz County Fire Department, Santa Cruz City Fire rescue swimmers, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, and California State Parks, responded to the emergency. Approximately eight rescue swimmers were deployed to assist in the rescue operation.
Following the incident, one woman was rescued from the water near Panther Beach, while the other was found at Yellow Bank Beach nearby. Both women were rushed to local hospitals for treatment. One of the victims was airlifted from the beach via helicopter, while the other was carried up in a Stokes basket, a stretcher commonly used by first responders.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed the identities of the deceased as 21-year-old Harshita Nair and 20-year-old Mahial Sran, both from Fremont, California. According to Breton, the women were believed to have been sleeping near the keyhole area, a spot prone to catching people off guard due to rising tides.
Cal Fire reported that this incident marked the fifth rescue operation they had conducted along a one-mile stretch of coastline near Santa Cruz in the past month. The local authorities emphasized the importance of being vigilant and aware of the changing tides, especially in areas like the keyhole entrance to beaches, to prevent such tragic accidents.