UMVA has learned that a tragic incident unfolded on the California coast, where two college students lost their lives after being swept into the Pacific Ocean by rising tides and powerful surf while napping near a perilous beach access point.
The victims, Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both from Fremont, were identified by authorities as friends who had been sleeping near the "Keyhole," a natural archway used to access Yellow Bank Beach, when incoming tides caught them off guard and pulled them into the water.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the two friends were believed to have been unaware of the dangers of the area, which authorities say often catches people off guard. The tides came in, sweeping the sleeping students out to sea.
A multi-agency rescue effort involving CAL FIRE, state lifeguards, and local fire departments was launched after a witness called 911. About eight rescue swimmers entered the rough surf to try and save the students.
One woman was pulled ashore at Panther Beach, where rescuers immediately began life-saving efforts. The second was located farther down the shoreline and airlifted from Yellow Bank Beach by a CAL FIRE helicopter while CPR was underway.
Despite the efforts of emergency responders, both women were rushed to hospitals but were later pronounced dead. The news sent shockwaves through their families and community.
Nair was a legal studies major at a top university, while Sran studied public health at another. Both women had graduated from Fremont's Washington High School in 2023 and were expected to complete their degrees in 2027.
Their families are still reeling from the tragedy. "I have no idea what happened," Nair's father said. "I'm still in shock."
The incident highlights the dangers of a notoriously hazardous stretch of Santa Cruz County coastline known for steep surf, strong currents, and so-called "sneaker waves" that can surge far beyond the waterline with little warning.
This stretch of coastline has seen a spate of water rescues recently, with Wednesday's rescue being the fifth in the past month along a one-mile stretch between Yellow Bank Beach and Bonny Doon Beach.
The tragedy occurred as powerful surf and dangerous ocean conditions battered California's coastline, with forecasters warning of strong rip currents and large waves generated by a long-period southern swell.
