Two Indian-American Women Die After Being Swept into Ocean While Sleeping at California Beach

Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were killed in a tragic incident at Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County, California, on Wednesday when they were swept into the ocean by unexpectedly high tides while sleeping near a rock formation known as a keyhole. Both young women, who were friends from Fremont, were initially rescued alive by eight rescue swimmers who responded after a witness called 911 around 5 p.m. However, Nair died despite resuscitation efforts after being airlifted by Cal Fire helicopter to a hospital, while Sran remained in critical condition at a local hospital through Saturday.

Rescue operations involved multiple agencies coordinating a complex response in challenging coastal conditions. Rescue personnel located the first victim at Panther Beach and initiated CPR before relocating her to Yellow Bank Beach, where a Cal Fire helicopter successfully extracted her from the beach with resuscitation efforts ongoing. The second victim was discovered further down the coast and transported via Stokes basket before being airlifted to a hospital. According to Santa Cruz County volunteer fire captain Kyle Breton, the keyhole formation is particularly dangerous because rising tides can catch unsuspecting people off guard, and visitors attempting to pass through the area to reach Yellow Bank Beach may become trapped when tides rise.

Both victims were recent high school graduates from Washington High School in Fremont, class of 2023. Nair was pursuing legal studies at UC Berkeley with graduation planned for 2027, while Sran was a public health student at San Jose State University. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office identified the victims following the incident. Nair's father expressed shock and disbelief to media outlets, stating he had no idea what had happened. The tragedy has drawn attention to the hazards posed by Bonny Doon Beach, which is known for its treacherous waves and unpredictable tidal patterns.