Two women die after being swept to sea at Northern California beach

Two women died after being swept to sea at Yellow Bank Beach, located just north of Santa Cruz, California, on June 16, 2026. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. Fire officials reported that eight rescue swimmers were dispatched to locate the women, who were subsequently returned to shore. They were transported to Dominican Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The victims were identified as Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both from Fremont, California. Cal FIRE spokesperson Michael Horn stated that it was unclear what the women were doing when they were swept into the ocean, but noted that they were caught off guard. Horn emphasized the importance of beach safety, advising beachgoers to avoid turning their backs to the ocean and to check local tide charts before visiting beaches to prevent dangerous situations.