Shireen Ahsan, 19-years-old, is one of two UC Santa Cruz students who were swept out to sea on Monday evening. A search party involving US Coast Guard helicopters and repel crews that covered 46 miles was put on hold last night.
According to witness reports, Shireen and four of her friends were visiting the Boony Doon Beach in Santa Cruz when they decided to climb down a cliff using a rope that’s offered public access to the beach. They made the 70-foot descent and then stood on a rock. It was at that moment a massive wave knocked three of them off that rock, leaving just two of the students.
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One of the three students who was thrown into the ocean managed to swim back to shore with minor injuries. Shireen was not one of them.
The Coast Guard helicopter, two Coast Guard boats and a Cal Fire helicopter crew continued the search through the night until about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Urrutia said. It covered 46 nautical miles.
Since the pair have not been spotted, they have little to go on, Urrutia said. The pair is not presumed dead, although authorities said it would be very difficult to survive in 56-degree water with no wetsuit for 24 hours [source].
Shireen is a member of the Muslim Student Association and was interested in Computer Science. A vigil is being held in honor of both Shireen and Solaiman today at 2 PM PST at Doony Boon Beach.
