University in California Claims to Have Found Missing Swimmer Who Leaped from a Cliff

Missing Swimmer Identified at UCSC

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) has confirmed that a student is the missing swimmer who jumped off a cliff on Sunday afternoon.

Witnesses reported seeing two men leap from the cliff at West Cliff Drive, as noted by KSBW8. It’s believed that while one of the swimmers managed to return to safety, the other may have tragically succumbed.

Local authorities, state parks, and the US Coast Guard initiated a search operation for the missing swimmer, but the efforts were called off later that evening.

In a statement, UCSC acknowledged the individual as one of their students. The university expressed that the community is “grieving” and chose not to disclose the student’s name. They stated, “We are heartbroken to learn about the tragic death of a UC Santa Cruz undergraduate. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends. We are in contact with the family and providing support to others affected. To respect their privacy, we do not share students’ names.”

According to reports, the search team deployed multiple groups of lifeguards and utilized drones in their efforts.

UCSC student Ellio Eltzi urged people to pray for the victim’s family. “I pray for him, I pray for his family, I pray to the sea,” Eltzi said. “This is also about showing families they are not grieving alone; they have a supportive community.”

Officials from Santa Cruz City mentioned that KSBW8 reported 43 water rescues in areas lacking lifeguard supervision in 2024. Additionally, the sign at West Cliff Drive indicates that there have been 100 drowning incidents along coastal cliffs and beaches since 1965.