A UCLA student died Tuesday after falling from a cliff at Panther State Beach near Santa Cruz.
Neel Foon, 18, was a first-year undeclared student, a UCLA spokesperson said.
Foon was with a small group of people when he walked too close to the edge of the cliff and fell at about 5:14 p.m., a Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson said.
He previously attended Oakland School of the Arts, a high school in Oakland, and resided in Hercules, California, a city in Contra Costa County.
Counselors will be available to Foon’s family, friends and other community members who are affected by his death, a UCLA spokesperson said.
When will tourists realize the dangers of climbing around on the cliffs bordering our ocean?? I live in the Santa Cruz area and this story is an all to often reoccurring story. There are warning signs all over the place. This young man’s death was TOTALLY unnecessary. These cliffs are constantly eroding because they are not made of rock and stepping to the edge may mean you are stepping on to an undercut portion of the cliff. Please use your brain when you go anywhere near the edge of these cliffs. One more thing:Panther Beach is a nude beach and this kid may have been ogling people on the beach. It isn’t worth it.
Show some respect man like I understand that you’re trying to educate people about the dangers of hiking around cliffs but a family just lost they’re child in a tragic and unexpected way. I went to school with Neel last year and he was such a happy soul. A teenager just died and you can’t show any sympathy at all other than to say he should’ve used his brain and even accuse him of “ogling” people? Really shows what kind of a heartless person you are.
I was so sorry to hear about Neel’s death the other night, speaking to folks who had children that were good friends with Neel, and knew him well.
What a tragic loss of such a promising life.
Yes, cliffs are dangerous. So is driving. Accidents can happen to anyone.
I agree wholeheartedly with Maren: a little empathy for all involved would be appropriate here, rather than specious conjecture and “blaming the victim.”
RIP Neel, and I wish comfort and healing to all those who knew and loved him.