Two California College Students Who Fell Asleep on a Santa Cruz Beach Were Swept Into the Ocean by Waves and Did Not Survive: ‘I Am Still in Shock’
Two young college friends from Fremont, California have died after ocean waves swept them off Bonny Doon Beach in Santa Cruz County. Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were reportedly sleeping on the beach when the waves pulled them into the water at around 5 PM. Both women were rescued and taken to hospital but neither survived.
Two Friends Since High School
Harshita and Mahial had been friends since high school, both graduating from Washington High School in Fremont three years ago. Their lives were full of promise and both were on track to graduate in 2027:
- Harshita Nair was a legal studies major at UC Berkeley, expected to graduate in 2027
- Mahial Sran was studying public health at San José State University, also expected to graduate in 2027
What Happened at Bonny Doon Beach
According to Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton, the two women were believed to have been sleeping in what is known as a “keyhole”, a narrow tunnel-like opening in coastal rocks, when the waves swept them out.
At least eight volunteer swimmers entered the water to try to rescue them.
“Both of these patients, we believe, were originally sleeping right at the keyhole, which is an area that we’re finding catches people unaware,” Breton said. “The tides come in and, in this case, they swept out two sleeping patients, but what we’re also seeing is that people go through the keyhole to get to Yellow Bank Beach and then get trapped because the tides come in.”
The Rescue Effort and What Followed
The rescue effort was swift but the outcome was devastating:
- One of the women was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital
- The other was taken by stretcher to an ambulance
- Harshita died shortly after being pulled from the water
- Mahial was initially listed in critical condition but passed away on Saturday
A Father’s Heartbreak
Harshita’s father spoke about the moment he learned of the tragedy, saying the family was completely blindsided by the news.
“I have no idea what happened,” he said. “I am still in shock.”
A Beach With a Dangerous History
Bonny Doon Beach is known for its powerful currents and steep near-vertical waves, according to local authorities. This incident was reportedly the fifth rescue along that same one-mile stretch of Santa Cruz coastline within the past month, suggesting the area has seen an unusually active period of dangerous ocean conditions.
Official Warning to Beachgoers
Following the deaths, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office urged beachgoers to stay alert near the water. According to their public statement, officials encouraged people to:
- Be aware of ocean conditions before entering or resting near the water
- Understand how to recognize rip currents
- Know how to respond to rip currents if caught in one
- Never sleep near the water’s edge or in coastal rock formations where tides can shift unexpectedly
A Dangerous Pattern Along California’s Coastline
The deaths of Harshita and Mahial came shortly after another fatal beach incident in California. A five-year-old girl named Amada Mia Brown, who had just been set to start kindergarten, was reportedly swept into the ocean near Laguna Beach the previous week and drowned after becoming trapped in powerful waves.
California’s coastline has seen a troubling rise in dangerous ocean incidents in recent weeks, and authorities are urging all beachgoers to exercise extreme caution, stay away from unfamiliar rock formations, and never underestimate the power of ocean tides.
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