2 dead after drowning in Santa Cruz waters near popular hiking trail, authorities say – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KGO) — Two people drowned in Santa Cruz near West Cliff Drive, a popular hiking trail along the Pacific Ocean.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department said the victims were apparently washed off the rocks by a wave shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Lifeguards and firefighters were on the scene in less than six minutes, they said.

Tragically, the two victims, a man and a woman, were found face down in the water.

“Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated and advanced life support was continued until they reached port, where they received further medical treatment,” said Brendan Daly, marine safety officer for the Santa Cruz Fire Department. “Unfortunately, these victims did not survive.”

Many community members who took their daily walk along the shore the following day were shocked by the news.

“Just learning about it was horrifying,” said Diane Castle, a longtime resident of the Santa Cruz area and nearby Capitola.

She said she couldn’t remember the last time something like this happened in this area.

“I tend to read about things like this more up north or south along the coast, obviously near Big Sur and even up here on the coast,” Castle said. “But not in the city.”

A local commercial fisherman told ABC7 that while it is tragic, he sees too many people in the area who don’t know exactly what to expect.

“People think they’re safe. They go down there. If they get washed in, they can get into real trouble,” says Christian Zajac, a local commercial fisherman. “We have less sand this year because there have been such big storms. The sand has been washed away and they have no place to climb out.”

As the community tries to come to terms with the tragedy, fire officials hope the tragedy serves as an important reminder.

“It’s a tragedy. We feel for the families affected,” Daly said. “Our big message to the public is, ‘Do your research before you go.’ That means whether you find that information yourself, look it up on our website or check with a lifeguard – get that practical information when you get to the beach, before you get in the water, before you get near the water – ask someone who can give you that information.”

Authorities have still not released the identities of the victims and it is not known whether they are locals or tourists.

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