Two women died after they were \u201ccaught off guard\u201d and swept to sea during their visit to a Northern California beach, officials said Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were swept away about 5 p.m. Wednesday near Yellow Bank Beach just north of Santa Cruz, fire officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eight rescue swimmers were dispatched and found the women and returned them to shore, officials said. The women were taken to Dominican Hospital, where they died, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is unclear what they were doing when they were swept into the ocean,\u201d Cal Fire spokesperson Michael Horn said in a statement. \u201cWhat we do know is they were caught off guard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, both from the nearby San Francisco Bay Area city of Fremont, died after they were \u201cunexpectedly washed out\u201d to sea, according to Santa Cruz County sheriff\u2019s spokesperson Ashley Keehn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Horn said the deaths should be a reminder to beachgoers to avoid turning their backs to the ocean and a warning that if \u201cthe sand is wet, waves have been there recently and will return at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlways check a local tide chart before visiting beaches,\u201d he said. \u201cIf the tide is rising, do not put yourself in a position where your only exit path can be cut off by water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n