Two friends, Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, died after being swept into the ocean while napping at Bonny Doon Beach in California, a location known for hazardous waves. The incident occurred last Wednesday. Authorities later confirmed the victims’ identities. Family members expressed shock at the sudden loss.
A witness contacted emergency services around 5 p.m., prompting a large response from multiple agencies. Eight rescue swimmers entered the water. One woman was airlifted by helicopter from Yellow Bank Beach to a hospital, while the other was taken by ambulance from Panther Beach. Nair was pronounced dead shortly after rescue. Sran remained in critical condition at a hospital until Saturday.
Both women were from Fremont. Nair studied legal studies at UC Berkeley and was expected to graduate in 2027. Sran was enrolled in public health at San Jose State University. They had graduated together from Washington High School in Fremont in 2023.
Fire officials noted the pair had been sleeping near a keyhole formation on the beach, an area prone to sudden tidal surges that can catch visitors off guard. Similar incidents have occurred when people attempt to cross through the keyhole to reach adjacent beaches and become trapped by incoming tides.
