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UC Santa Cruz Student Presumed Dead After Steamer Lane Cliff-Jump

Originally posted on SURFER | By August Howell | Last updated May 7, 2025 4:20 PM ET

Sad news out of Northern California this week, after the University of California, Santa Cruz, confirmed the death of a male undergraduate student who went missing on Sunday after jumping off the cliff at Steamer Lane.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department was called around 4:45 p.m. after witnesses said two swimmers had jumped off the cliff and were struggling to return to shore. Personnel from California State Parks, harbor patrol, Santa Cruz police and the United States Coast Guard responded to the incident. Witnesses said one of the swimmers got out of the water on their own. The other was last seen near Its Beach, located just north of the Lane.

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Surfers often jump from the end of the point and paddle east toward the Slot or Middle Peak. Despite over an hour of searching, including with drones, authorities were unable to find the swimmer. The Coast Guard eventually suspended its search efforts on Monday. UC Santa Cruz did not share the name of the missing victim. “We are heartbroken to learn about the tragic death of a UC Santa Cruz undergraduate student,” the school said in a statement sent to Lookout Santa Cruz by UCSC spokesperson Scott Hernandez-Jason. “Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. We are in touch with the family and are providing support to others who are impacted. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we are not sharing the student’s name.”

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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