Two adults were swept into the cold Pacific Ocean from rocks near Panther Beach on Tuesday and could not get out of the water on their own, triggering a multi-agency rescue that ended with a helicopter hoist up a steep cliff. Both were transported to the hospital afterward. The circumstances that led to the two being swept into the water remain unclear.
CAL FIRE was first on scene, according to a statement from CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit posted to Facebook. Rescue swimmers from the Santa Cruz Fire Department and California State Parks Public Safety then helped pull both adults from the water near Panther Beach, the agency said. Responders provided resuscitation efforts on the beach before a CAL FIRE Fire Hawk helicopter lifted the patients up the steep cliff to safety.
Hazardous Surf Conditions Persist Along the Coast
The rescue came as first responders and the National Weather Service were already warning of dangerous beach conditions across Santa Cruz County. Beach hazards, including sneaker waves and strong rip currents, were expected to continue through at least 9 p.m. Thursday, according to Lookout Santa Cruz. The outlet reported that Cal Fire and assisting agencies had responded to five ocean rescues over the prior 30 days in a one-mile stretch of coastline in the northern part of the county, though accounts of that stretch's exact endpoints have varied between reports.
The area near Panther Beach has seen tragedy before. In June, one woman died and another remained in critical condition after a separate water rescue near the same beach, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. In that incident, rescue swimmers from Santa Cruz City Fire Department and California State Parks pulled one woman from the water onto Panther Beach, while a helicopter hoisted the other patient and the rescue team to the bluffs above Yellow Bank Beach, the Sentinel reported.
Officials Repeat Warnings for Coastal Visitors
CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit reiterated that ocean waves and currents can change quickly near rocks and cliffs, urging coastal visitors to keep well back from the water's edge. The agency also encouraged people to follow posted warnings and safety guidance when visiting beaches along the county's rugged northern coastline.
Tuesday's rescue remains under review, with the agency stating that the circumstances leading to the incident are still unclear. No further details on the condition of the two adults following their hospital transport have been released.
