The women were pulled into the ocean near a coastal rock opening during a week of hazardous surf.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Two Fremont college students died after they were swept into the ocean last week near a Santa Cruz County beach, where rescue crews entered rough surf and pulled both women from the water, authorities and family members said.
Mahial Sran, 20, a San Jose State University student, and Harshita Nair, 21, a UC Berkeley student, were caught along the coast near the Yellow Bank Beach, Panther Beach and Bonny Doon Beach area. Their deaths have drawn attention to a rugged stretch north of Santa Cruz where first responders say rising tides, rock openings and strong surf have led to repeated rescues in recent weeks.
Emergency crews responded June 10 after reports that people had been swept into the water near a natural coastal opening known as the Keyhole. Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Capt. Kyle Breton said crews first received a report of one person in the water, then learned there were two people who needed rescue. “We put eight rescue swimmers in the water,” Breton said, adding that crews on the bluffs helped track the women’s locations and guide the rescue effort. Both women were brought back to shore and taken to hospitals. Officials later confirmed that both had died.
Early reports from officials said the women may have been sleeping near the Keyhole when the tide came in. A later account from a witness, reported by authorities, said they were not sleeping at the time. Sran’s father said his daughter’s bag and phone were not wet, leading him to believe the women were near the water when a wave hit them. Officials have not released a full public timeline of their movements before they were pulled into the ocean. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office had not publicly released official causes and manners of death as of Tuesday.
The rescue took place along a one-mile stretch of coast from Yellow Bank Beach to Bonny Doon Beach. Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit said it was the fifth rescue in a month in that area. The Keyhole is a rock opening used by visitors to reach Yellow Bank Beach. Fire officials said the passage can become unsafe when the tide rises and cuts off the route back. One patient was taken to Yellow Bank Beach above the bluffs by helicopter before being moved to an ambulance. The other was brought to Panther Beach and carried in a rescue basket to an ambulance.
Sran and Nair were both from Fremont and had attended Washington High School. Sran was studying public health at San Jose State University. Nair was a student at UC Berkeley. Family members and friends described the women as close friends with strong ties to the East Bay. Their deaths came during a period of dangerous ocean conditions along parts of the California coast, including warnings about strong rip currents, sneaker waves and powerful surf. The same week, a 5-year-old girl died after being swept into the ocean in Southern California.
Local first responders have pointed to the area’s cliffs, caves and coves as part of the danger. The beaches north of Santa Cruz draw visitors for their views and rock formations, but access points can change quickly as tides rise. Officials said some visitors pass through the Keyhole and become trapped on the far side when the water blocks the opening. The recent rescue history along the Bonny Doon and Yellow Bank Beach stretch has put new focus on how quickly calm-looking beach conditions can shift, especially when larger ocean swells reach the coast.
No criminal case has been announced in connection with the deaths. The next procedural steps rest with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, which is responsible for final death findings, and with local fire and rescue agencies that review major emergency responses. Officials have not said whether added signs, barriers or public safety changes are planned at the Keyhole or nearby beach access points. Fire officials said the rescue involved several agencies, including Cal Fire, local rescue swimmers and other Santa Cruz County emergency responders.
The scene was spread across steep bluffs, beach coves and surf zones that made the rescue difficult. Breton said crews had people in the water and observers above the beach working at the same time to locate the patients. Video and photos from the response showed a helicopter near the bluffs and rescue teams moving along the shore. Family members later gathered information from officials and from items recovered after the incident. Sran’s father said the condition of his daughter’s belongings raised questions about exactly how the wave reached the women.
As of Tuesday, both students had been publicly identified, and no further victim information had been released by the coroner. The next major update is expected when Santa Cruz County officials complete death findings or announce any changes tied to beach access and rescue response.
Author note: Last updated June 16, 2026.