San Jose couple ID'd as Santa Cruz ocean drowning victims

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON) — A couple drowned after they were swept into the ocean by a big wave below West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz on July 16.

This week, a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson identified the victims as Pedro David Guadarrama Ceron, 30, of San Jose, and Emma Nelly Diazleal Lopez, 33, of San Jose.

Lopez was reportedly pregnant when she died. The couple had been standing on rocks near Mitchell’s Cove when they were dragged into the water by a wave at 6:18 p.m., 911 callers told dispatchers.

According to the Santa Cruz Fire Department, Lopez and Ceron were floating face-down when lifeguards and SCFD rescue swimmers swam out to them. The victims were pulled onto a harbor patrol boat.

“Two rescue swimmers from Santa Cruz Fire and two Santa Cruz City Lifeguards quickly entered the water and made access to both victims, swimming them out to the awaiting Harbor Patrol Rescue Boat. Advanced life support measures were immediately initiated as the victims were assisted on board the vessel and directed towards the Harbor. Despite uninterrupted resuscitative efforts, both victims succumbed to the elements and could not be resuscitated,” fire officials wrote.

The fire department said beach-goers should be aware of ocean conditions, which are constantly changing with tides and swells. “Never turn your back on the ocean and be aware of tidal conditions. Certain southerly swells and rising tides can produce ‘sneaker waves’ that can catch unaware citizens off-guard,” SCFD wrote.

In June, another beach-goer in Santa Cruz drowned after he jumped from a cliff into the ocean and was unable to swim back to shore. Hans Materne, 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, died in the waters near Moran Beach. “Hans decided to jump into the ocean from the top of the cliff. This jump would cost him his life when the high current levels in the ocean kept him from emerging safely,” Materne’s wife wrote.

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