Two young friends from California were killed after being swept into the ocean by dangerous waves while visiting a beach in Santa Cruz County.
Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both of Fremont, were identified as the victims of the tragedy at Bonny Doon Beach, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.
The women, who had both graduated from Washington High School in Fremont in 2023, were caught by the ocean last Wednesday as powerful surf battered the California coastline.
Nair was studying legal studies at UC Berkeley and was expected to graduate in 2027. Sran was pursuing a public health degree at San José State University and was also set to graduate in 2027.
Authorities believe the two friends had been sleeping near a keyhole area on the beach when the waves suddenly swept them into the water.
Nair’s father, Ahock Nair, told The Post that he still does not know exactly what happened to his daughter.
“I have no idea what happened,” he said. “I’m still in shock.”
A witness called 911 at about 5 p.m., prompting multiple law enforcement and emergency agencies to rush to the dangerous stretch of coastline.
Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton said about eight rescue swimmers entered the rough ocean to pull the women from the water.
Bonny Doon Beach is known for its steep surf line, powerful currents, and sudden rogue waves that can catch beachgoers off guard.
“Both of these patients, we believe, were originally sleeping right at the keyhole, which is an area that we’re finding catches people unaware,” Breton said.
One of the women was flown by helicopter to Yellow Bank Beach at the top of the bluffs before being taken to a hospital. The other was brought to Panther Beach, where rescuers carried her in a stokes basket to an ambulance.
Nair died shortly after the rescue. Sran remained hospitalized in critical condition until Saturday, according to the sheriff-coroner’s office.
Authorities have not yet officially determined the cause and manner of their deaths.
The rescue was the fifth water rescue in the past month along the one-mile stretch of coastline between Yellow Bank Beach and Bonny Doon Beach, officials said.
The tragedy came just one day after 5-year-old Amada Mia Brown of San Bernardino was swept into the ocean near Laguna Beach. She later died after being caught in the powerful surf. She had been set to begin kindergarten in August.
Sran worked part-time as a cashier at the Michael Kors Outlet at Great Mall in Milpitas, according to a saddened coworker. She was also president of a public health club at her college, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Nair was an intern at the UC Berkeley student union, according to her LinkedIn profile. A former coworker said she had worked at a UPS Store in Fremont until several months ago.
The dangerous surf conditions along the California coast were caused by a powerful southern swell that battered beaches across the Pacific, according to National Weather Service officials.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning after a spike in water rescues over the past several weeks.
Breton said many beachgoers do not realize how quickly conditions can change in that area.
“What we’re also seeing is that people go through the keyhole to get to Yellow Bank Beach, and then they get trapped on Yellow Bank Beach because of the tides,” he said.
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