A hero mum-of-two tragically died after plummeting from a waterfall during a hike while trying to save a teen girl, who had lost her footing and slipped.
Sarah Crocker, 48, was at the Three Sisters Falls in the Cleveland National Forest last Thursday when tragedy struck the family. Sarah was leading a hike with four teens at the time of her death.
She reportedly plummetted down the 150-foot (40-metre) falls after trying to save a teen girl who had lost her footing and also began to slip.
As Sarah reached out to heroically save the girl, both of them slipped, falling all the way down into the falls. The teenager was pulled from the water alive but with severe injuries.
Sarah, of Ladera Ranch, California, tragically didn't make it.
A statement from the San Diego Sheriff's Office, dated June 8, says: "When deputies arrived at the scene, they learned a group consisting of a woman and four teenagers were hiking along the ledge of one of the falls when one of the teens slipped.
"The woman supervising the teenagers attempted to keep the girl from going over the ledge.
"Unfortunately, both the woman and girl fell and suffered severe injuries.
"Several people witnessed the accident and attempted to render medical aid.
"The woman died at the scene. The teenager was flown via helicopter to a hospital for severe but non-life-threatening injuries."
The San Diego Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries, especially chest and right pelvis with drowning."
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the Crocker family, with more than USD 16,000 (GBP 12,700) raised out of a USD 50,000 (GBP 39,800) goal at the time of writing.
The summary said: "Our community is grieving the unexpected loss of the much-loved Sarah Crocker, wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and amazing human being.
"We lost Sarah in a tragic hiking accident. Sarah was pure joy. Her love of family, friends and all things outdoors made her special to all who knew her.
"She was a talented and accomplished artist who grew up in Laguna Beach, California, and raised her family in Ladera Ranch.
"She was an active member in the community through her daughter’s A4 Volleyball Club and R12 Service club, her hiking club, son’s robotics team at Capistrano Valley High School and Boy Scouts, and her work at The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo as a naturalist leading elementary school field trips.
"Sarah is survived by her husband Brad and children Owen and Delaney. If you would like to make a donation to help with expenses and educational needs for Owen and Delaney it would be greatly appreciated. All donations will go directly to the Crocker Family."
"Sarah was a joyous, kind, and caring woman who will be missed tremendously."
