On Wednesday, the two women, believed to be in their 20s, were pulled from the water near Yellow Bank Beach<\/a> by eight rescue swimmers, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff\u2019s Office. One woman was airlifted from the beach by helicopter<\/a>, while the other was transported using a Stokes basket, officials said.<\/p>\n Investigators believe the women may have been sleeping when a rapidly rising tide caught them off guard and dragged them into the ocean, Santa Cruz County Fire Department Fire Captain Kyle Breton said. One woman was later pronounced dead at a hospital, while the other remained in critical condition as of Friday, a sheriff\u2019s spokesperson confirmed.<\/p>\n “Swimmers were able to locate the first victim and move them on to Panther Beach, where we began resuscitation efforts. A second victim was located further down shore, and was pulled into Yellow Bank Beach. And then Copter 614, the Cal Fire hoist helicopter, was able to lift that patient off the beach, also CPR in progress,” a first responder told KSBW 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n The incident comes just days after the death of 5-year-old Amada Mia Brown, who was swept into the ocean in Laguna Beach during high surf and recovered two days after she went missing.<\/p>\n In Newport Beach, the powerful swell produced historic 20-foot waves at the Wedge, leading to more than 100 lifeguard rescues this week, according to the Los Angeles Times<\/a>. <\/p>\n Although wave heights peaked Wednesday, a beach hazard statement remains in effect across Southern California through Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters warn that dangerous rip currents and elevated surf of 3 to 6 feet will continue, keeping conditions hazardous along the shoreline.<\/p>\n The swell also significantly increases the risk of drowning, as waves can knock people off beaches<\/a> or rocks and capsize small boats. Minor coastal flooding is also possible in low-lying areas due to high astronomical tides expected to reach 7.5 to 7.9 feet each evening through Monday.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Untitled-design-(12).png\")
The two women were believed to be sleeping when a rapidly rising tide caught them off guard and swept them into the ocean (Santa Cruz Fire Department)<\/p>\n