California Beach Tragedy Claims Lives Of Two Fremont Students

India-West News Desk

SANTA CRUZ, CA – Two young women from Fremont, California, have died after being swept into the ocean while napping at Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County.

Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were resting near a coastal formation known as a “keyhole” on June 10 when rising tides swept them into the water.

According to officials, the area is known for dangerous and unpredictable tides. Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton said the keyhole can be deceptive because rising water can quickly catch beachgoers off guard. He said people often pass through the area to reach Yellow Bank Beach and later find themselves trapped as the tide comes in.

Emergency responders were alerted around 5 p.m. after a witness called 911. Multiple agencies responded, including eight rescue swimmers who entered the water to search for the two women.

Both women were rescued and brought to shore, where first responders immediately began CPR. One was airlifted by a Cal Fire helicopter to a nearby beach before being transported to a hospital, while the other was taken to Panther Beach and transported by ambulance.

Nair died shortly after being rescued. Sran remained hospitalized in critical condition before succumbing to her injuries on June 13.

Nair and Sran graduated from Washington High School in Fremont in 2023. Nair was studying legal studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and was expected to graduate in 2027. Sran was a public health student at San Jose State University.