Photo: Santa Cruz Fire Department
The University of California Santa Cruz has confirmed that a swimmer who went missing Sunday was one of the school’s graduate students. UCSC released a statement Tuesday but did not reveal the identity of the missing swimmer out of respect for the family’s privacy.
“We are heartbroken to learn about the tragic death of a UC Santa Cruz undergraduate student. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. We are in touch with the family and are providing support to others who are impacted,” a spokesperson for the university told Bay Area local news station KRON4.
The incident at the center of the student’s disappearance took place Sunday afternoon when two people jumped off of the cliff overlooking Steamer Lane. Witnesses reported seeing the two swimmers struggling after they’d jumped into the ocean and KRON4 reports that some witnesses claimed they were both surfers. According to the Santa Cruz Fire Department, one of the two victims was able to swim back to shore on their own while the other was last seen in the water at Its Beach near the Light House.
Surfers typically enter the lineup at Steamer Lane by climbing down the cliff next to the Slot or by jumping off the cliff that extends west from Lighthouse Point. The lineups at the Point and the Slot are to the east side of that cliff, with Its Beach sitting on the west. Seal Rock sits just offshore of this, so a surfer getting washed over to Its Beach would require getting dragged between the end of the cliff at the point and Seal Rock. Being dragged too close to the cliff on either side is incredibly dangerous, especially in high surf.
The search and rescue was reportedly launched in the waters by Its Beach with members from the U.S. Coast Guard, California State Parks, harbor patrol, local lifeguards, and multiple fire departments involved.
“Specialized search patterns were conducted in the area where the victim was last seen, along with drone operations for assistance. After over an hour of an extensive search, it was determined to conclude the search from shore. Coast Guard units remained on scene to search the area with both aircraft and a vessel,” the Santa Cruze Fire Department said.
