A 48-year-old mother of two plunged to her death over a waterfall when she tried to stop a teenage girl from falling.
Victim Sarah Louise Crocker had been leading a hike through Cleveland National Forest, in North San Diego County, in the US state of California, when the girl slipped at Three Sisters Falls on Thursday, 8th June.
But as she tried to save the teen from a narrow ledge she lost her footing and fell with her down into the 150-foot (40-metre) falls.
Sarah succumbed to her injuries but the girl she was trying to save – a family friend – survived with “severe” but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the police.
Sarah was reportedly supervising a group of four teens when the disaster happened.
CEN obtained a statement from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office dated 8th June saying: “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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
And the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death as “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.”
