2 dead after being swept into ocean at Santa Cruz beach

( KRON ) — Two people who were swept off of the rocks into the ocean near Mitchell's Cove Beach in Santa Cruz Tuesday evening were pronounced dead after a water rescue, according to the Santa Cruz Fire Department.

Multiple agencies responded at 6:18 p.m. to West Cliff Drive near David Way on reports of two victims who were swept off the rocks by a wave. Several fire department engines along with Harbor Patrol, California State Parks and Santa Cruz Police Department personnel arrived on the scene and located both victims "floating face down in the ocean," SCFD said.

Rescue swimmers with SCFD and Santa Cruz City Lifeguards reached the two victims in the water and brought them to an awaiting rescue boat. The vessel set course for the harbor as life support measures were made on board, officials said. Awaiting medical crews at the harbor resumed life support after the boat arrived.

Neither of the victims could be resuscitated despite uninterrupted efforts, SCFD said, and were pronounced deceased.

Officials remind people to never turn their back on the ocean and to be aware of the tides. "Certain southerly swells and rising tides and produce ‘sneaker waves' that can catch unaware citizens off-guard," SCFD said.

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