The names of the two people who were killed after falling into the water off of West Cliff in Santa Cruz, California, have been released. According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, the victims were Pedro David Guadarrama Ceron, 30, and Emma Nelly Diazleal Lopez, 33, both from San Jose. According to the U.S. Coast Guard Station Monterey, on July 16, crews were dispatched for reports of people falling into the water near West Cliff Drive and David Way. Dispatch reports show the calls came in around 6:15 p.m.It was learned that the two individuals were a couple and soon-to-be married.Pedro's father said that learning of their deaths caused an indescribable pain. According to reports, the couple was attempting to take a picture on the rocks when a wave came out of nowhere and swept them into the waterBoth victims were found floating in the ocean with their faces down in the water when first responders found them."CPR was initiated and continued with advanced life support all the way into the harbor, and at which point they received further medical treatment," said Brendan Daly, the marine safety officer with the Santa Cruz Fire Department. "Unfortunately, those victims did not survive."Pedro's family also revealed that they learned Emma was pregnant at the time of her death, making the tragedy even more devastating, they said.Many community members making their daily walk along the coast the following day were shocked by the news."It was horrifying just to learn," said Diane Castle a longtime resident in the areas of both Santa Cruz and the nearby Capitola.She said she couldn't remember the last time something like this happened in that area."These are things I tend to read about more north or south along the coasts, down near Big Sur, of course, and even up the coast here," Castle said. "But not in town."The Santa Cruz Fire Department wanted to remind people to never turn their backs on the ocean and to be aware of tidal conditions."It's a tragedy. We really feel for the families involved," Daly said. "Our big message that we want to put out to the public is, 'Know before you go'. So that's whether you find that information yourself, going to our website, checking in with a lifeguard -- is really getting that hands on information when you get to the beach, before you get in the water, before you go near the water -- checking in with somebody who has that information to give you."CNN contributed to this report.
The names of the two people who were killed after falling into the water off of West Cliff in Santa Cruz, California, have been released.
According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, the victims were Pedro David Guadarrama Ceron, 30, and Emma Nelly Diazleal Lopez, 33, both from San Jose.
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According to the U.S. Coast Guard Station Monterey, on July 16, crews were dispatched for reports of people falling into the water near West Cliff Drive and David Way. Dispatch reports show the calls came in around 6:15 p.m.
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It was learned that the two individuals were a couple and soon-to-be married.
Pedro's father said that learning of their deaths caused an indescribable pain. According to reports, the couple was attempting to take a picture on the rocks when a wave came out of nowhere and swept them into the water
Both victims were found floating in the ocean with their faces down in the water when first responders found them.
"CPR was initiated and continued with advanced life support all the way into the harbor, and at which point they received further medical treatment," said Brendan Daly, the marine safety officer with the Santa Cruz Fire Department. "Unfortunately, those victims did not survive."
Pedro's family also revealed that they learned Emma was pregnant at the time of her death, making the tragedy even more devastating, they said.
Many community members making their daily walk along the coast the following day were shocked by the news.
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"It was horrifying just to learn," said Diane Castle a longtime resident in the areas of both Santa Cruz and the nearby Capitola.
She said she couldn't remember the last time something like this happened in that area.
"These are things I tend to read about more north or south along the coasts, down near Big Sur, of course, and even up the coast here," Castle said. "But not in town."
The Santa Cruz Fire Department wanted to remind people to never turn their backs on the ocean and to be aware of tidal conditions.
"It's a tragedy. We really feel for the families involved," Daly said. "Our big message that we want to put out to the public is, 'Know before you go'. So that's whether you find that information yourself, going to our website, checking in with a lifeguard -- is really getting that hands on information when you get to the beach, before you get in the water, before you go near the water -- checking in with somebody who has that information to give you."
CNN contributed to this report.
