A Hollister teen was declared dead Sunday evening after he slipped off rocks and fell into the water off Panther Beach in Santa Cruz, according to authorities.
Santa Cruz County deputy Ryan Kennedy confirmed the deceased man was 19-year-old Richard Beltran from Hollister.
He said Beltran had fallen 10 feet into the water from a sheer face-rock formation and was pulled under due to strong current at around 2:20 p.m.
Rescuers went to pull him out of the water but were unable to revive him.
Officials say they believe it was an accident but didn’t rule out alcohol use.
“We don’t have any reason” to believe he was intoxicated, Kennedy said.
A high surf advisory had been issued for the area prior to the incident.
Comments on a Facebook post Monday afternoon remembered Beltran as a brother and a “home run hitter” among those who grew up with him playing little league.
“Prayers for his family and friends,” wrote one poster.
