A pregnant woman and her fiance have drowned after being swept out to sea by a wave while taking a photo together in an area known as the “death rocks.”
Pedro David Guadarrama Ceron, 30, and Emma Nelly Diazleal Lopez, 33, were last seen posing for photos on rocks in an area of Santa Cruz that got its ominous nickname because of the turbulent currents that can change suddenly, KTVU said.
The newly engaged couple had only recently found out they were expecting their first child when they were swept off the rocks near near Mitchell’s Cove, grieving loved ones told NBC Bay Area.
First responders found them floating face down in the water, fire officials said.
“Advanced life support measures were immediately initiated as the victims were assisted on board the vessel and directed towards the harbor,” the Santa Cruz Fire Department (SCFD) said.
“Despite uninterrupted resuscitative efforts, both victims succumbed to the elements and could not be resuscitated.”
The fire department warned people to “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 said in a statement.