Climbers Who Fell To Their Deaths Near Idyllwild ID'd As OC Residents

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The coroner has identified two Orange County climbers who died on a rock face just east of Idyllwild Wednesday.

Gavin Escobar, 31, and Chelsea Walsh, 33, both of Huntington Beach, died together after falling near Tahquitz Rock in the San Jacinto Wilderness Area near Humber Park, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Brandi Swan.

An emergency call was received at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday from another person climbing in the remote area who saw the pair fall, the sergeant said.

The two reportedly plummeted "quite a distance," and by the time rescue crews were able to get to their location, they died, Swan said.

A helicopter was used to hoist their bodies from the area, according to the sergeant.

Escobar was an off-duty Long Beach city firefighter, who joined the agency in February, according to a department Facebook post. Escobar was also a former professional football tight end who spent four years with the Dallas Cowboys and also had stints with teams including the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at San Diego State University.

Escobar is survived by his wife and two young children, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.

The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau reported the pair's time of death at 1:18 p.m. and time of injury approximately 1 hour prior.

Tahquitz Rock is a popular destination for hikers, rock climbers, and wintertime ice climbers. It's also an excursion along the Pacific Crest Trail.