Two University Students Die After Being Swept Away by Waves at California Beach

Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both residents of Fremont, California, died after being dragged by waves at Bonny Doon beach in Santa Cruz County on June 10, 2026. The two had graduated together from Washington High School in 2023 and were on track to complete their university degrees in 2027. Nair was studying law at UC Berkeley with plans to work in law and public service, while Sran was pursuing public health and psychology at San José State University and was involved in academic and social support initiatives.

The tragedy occurred in a hazardous coastal area known as the "keyhole," a rock formation that provides access to a narrow strip of sand only during low tide. When tidal conditions shift, the area becomes dangerous as water levels rise rapidly. Authorities confirmed that the students were caught off guard by rising water and strong currents while napping. Emergency responders from Santa Cruz County Fire and California State Parks mobilized eight rescue swimmers to locate the victims. Nair was found near Yellow Bank Beach and Sran near Panther Beach. Nair died shortly after rescue, while Sran remained in critical condition until Saturday, when her death was confirmed.

The Bonny Doon and Yellow Bank beaches are notorious for steep waves and intense currents. The U.S. National Weather Service reported that a long-period swell was affecting the coast at the time of the incident, creating strong rip currents and treacherous wave conditions. Captain Kyle Breton of the Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Corps noted that the keyhole frequently catches unsuspecting visitors by surprise, with people becoming trapped when the tide rises after accessing the narrower beach beyond the formation. Rescue services reported that this was the fifth emergency response in a single month along a 1.6-kilometer stretch between Yellow Bank and Bonny Doon beaches.

Following the incident, authorities reinforced safety warnings for beachgoers, urging them to maintain distance from waterfront structures and never turn their backs to the ocean. The tragedy highlights the persistent dangers posed by the area's unpredictable tidal and wave conditions.