2 dead after being washed into the sea at Santa Cruz beach

Archival photo of Mitchell’s Cove Beach in Santa Cruz, California. (Photo: Getty Images)

(KRON) – Two people who were swept off rocks into the ocean near Mitchell’s Cove Beach in Santa Cruz Tuesday night were pronounced dead after a water rescue, the Santa Cruz Fire Department said.

Multiple agencies responded to reports of two victims swept off the rocks by a wave at 6:18 p.m. and were dispatched to West Cliff Drive near David Way. Multiple fire trucks, as well as personnel from the Harbor Patrol, California State Parks and Santa Cruz Police Department, arrived on scene and found both victims “floating face down in the ocean,” according to the SCFD.

SCFD lifeguards and Santa Cruz City Lifeguards reached the two victims in the water and brought them to a waiting rescue boat. The vessel headed for port while life support was administered on board, officials said. Waiting medical teams at the port resumed life support after the boat arrived.

Despite continued efforts, none of the victims could be resuscitated, the SCFD said, and all victims were pronounced dead.

Authorities are reminding people to never turn their backs on the sea and to pay attention to the tides. “Certain southerly swells and rising tides create ‘sneaker waves’ that can surprise unsuspecting citizens,” the SCFD said.