On Sunday, June 30 at 3:30 at about 3:30 pm, the Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a multiple person drowning in the area of Bonny Doon Beach, approximately 8 miles north of the City of Santa Cruz on the North Coast of Santa Cruz County. The area is known for surf and wave conditions that are e dangerous and rapidly changing.
Sheriff’s Office deputies learned that four family members (2 brothers and their wives) were visiting the area and were fishing from a cliff area near Bonny Doon Beach. Leoannie Binas-Semana of San Francisco (age 30) and Aylene Semana of Milpitas (age 28) were swept into the ocean by a sudden surge of high surf.
A Department of Fish and Game Warden and a Ranger from California State Parks were in the immediate area and saw the two victims shortly after they were swept into the water. They saw both husbands jump the water and attempt to pull their wives from the surf.
Because of the treacherous surf conditions the two husbands were unable to rescue their wives. The Ranger and Warden immediately began coordinating water rescue efforts for the four people struggling in the water.
Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol, State Parks Water Rescue Personnel and Coast Guard water rescue personnel were sent to the area. Both husbands were recued with the assistance of water rescue personnel and survived. The two female victims were recovered about an hour after they were swept into the water and were pronounced dead upon recovery.
Editor’s Note: Rising tides are the most dangerous conditions for people fishing from the beach, from cliffs, walking along cliffs or among tide pools. On a rising tide, a relatively calm period can suddenly be replaced by dangerously high waves and rapid increases in water depth along the coast. Consult tide tables before a day of fishing or exploring tide pools or walking along cliffs. On June 30, the tide was rising quickly at 3:30 p.m. when the two women were tragically swept away by high waves.
