Tragic Loss: Friends Remembered After Drowning at California Beach
WHO:
The Guardian - Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were the two college students who drowned.
The Guardian - Sran was a student at San Jose State University.
The Guardian - Nair attended the University of California, Berkeley.
The Guardian - Kyle Breton, a Santa Cruz county volunteer fire captain, provided information about the incident.
WHAT:
The Guardian - Nair and Sran died after being swept out to sea by a sudden swell at a Santa Cruz beach.
The Guardian - Nair died last week, and Sran died in a local hospital on Sunday.
The Guardian - Authorities confirmed that the incident occurred during a period of massive waves and dangerous rip currents along the California coastline.
The Guardian - Local authorities responded to an ocean rescue for two women who had been pulled into the water on June 10.
The Guardian - A team of about eight rescue swimmers helped pull Nair and Sran from the water.
WHERE:
The Guardian - The incident occurred at a Santa Cruz beach.
The Guardian - The specific area of the beach is known to be dangerous.
The Guardian - The rescue took place along a mile-long portion of coastline from Yellow Bank Beach to Bonny Doon Beach.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The incident occurred last Wednesday.
The Guardian - Nair died last week, and Sran died in a local hospital on Sunday.
The Guardian - The rescue operation took place on June 10.
WHY:
The Guardian - Authorities urged people to take precautions while visiting beaches due to treacherous conditions caused by continuing king tides.
HOW:
The Guardian - Nair and Sran were believed to be napping near a rock archway between two beaches when the water swept them out.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 01:49 UTC)
Tragic news has emerged from a Santa Cruz beach, where college students Harshita Nair and Mahial Sran drowned after being swept out to sea by a sudden swell. Nair, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, died last week, while Sran, who attended San Jose State University, passed away in a local hospital on Sunday following the incident. Authorities have highlighted the dangerous conditions along the California coastline, urging beachgoers to exercise caution due to treacherous waves and rip currents.