1 dead, 1 in critical condition after being swept out near Panther Beach
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY - One woman is dead and another is in critical condition following a water rescue near Panther Beach, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office told the Sentinel Friday.
Emergency personnel were dispatched at 5:08 p.m. Wednesday in response to a 911 call reporting a person in the water near Panther Beach, Santa Cruz County Fire Capt. Kyle Breton told the Sentinel Friday. By the time resources arrived, they had received updated information that two people might be in the water.
With the supervision of fire personnel, rescue swimmers from Santa Cruz City Fire Department and California State Parks were deployed. Rescue swimmers pulled one woman from the water onto Panther Beach.
The other woman was pulled onto nearby Yellow Bank Beach, which is difficult to access. A helicopter hoisted the patient and rescue team to the bluffs above Yellow Bank Beach.
The two women, both in their 20s, were taken to the hospital in separate ground ambulances. As of Friday afternoon, one of the women has died and one remains in critical condition.
There have been conflicting reports of where the women were swept away, Breton said. It seems clear that they were near a keyhole in the cliffs at the south end of Panther Beach. When the waves are out, the keyhole provides access to Yellow Bank Beach. When the waves come in, the keyhole is no longer accessible, and the only way to reach Yellow Bank Beach would be to swim, Breton said.
According to initial reports, the women were sleeping on the beach near the keyhole before being swept away, Breton said. Per other sources, the women were awake and near the keyhole or just on the other side. Water came in, likely a high tide or sneaker wave, Breton said, and caught the women unaware before sweeping them out.
Several agencies responded to the emergency, including Cal Fire, the Santa Cruz County Fire Department, Santa Cruz City Fire rescue swimmers, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office and California State Parks.
The area around Panther Beach has seen several rescues recently, Breton said. Over the past month, fire departments have carried out five rescues in the 1-mile stretch between Panther Beach and Bonny Doon Beach. Breton said that beachgoers should be aware of the tide conditions and area hazards, including the keyhole at the end of Panther Beach.
"A lot of people go through when the tide is lower, not realizing that you cannot get back out of Yellow Bank Beach once the tide comes in," Breton said.
With high temperatures and large crowds expected at local beaches this weekend, regional public safety agencies urge caution. In addition to temperatures reaching the 80s along the coast and the mid-90s in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the National Weather Service forecasts a long-period southerly swell, creating an increased risk of sneaker waves and strong currents. Public safety officials urge beachgoers to never turn their backs on the ocean, to be aware of sneaker waves and changing surf conditions, obey posted signs and warnings, understand how to recognize and respond to rip currents, keep children within arm's reach when near the water, stay near staffed lifeguard towers when possible and avoid climbing on rocks, jetties and driftwood near the surf zone.
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