Former Dallas Cowboys player Gavin Escobar dead at age 31 after horror rock climbing accident that killed two
ONE of two rocks climbers found dead near in California on Wednesday was a former NFL star, the coroner's office confirmed.
Gavin Escobar, who played tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, died while climbing a rockface in California's San Bernardino National Forest. He was 31.
Escobar's body was discovered in Idyllwild with fellow climber Chelsea Walsh, 33, who was also declared dead at the scene, according to Cal Fire.
California fire officials said that they received reports of a climbing accident involving two injured people near Tahquitz Rock on Wednesday at noon.
Crews hiked to the bodies and determined the victims died while climbing a "rock face," officials said.
No other details surrounding their death were available as of late Thursday.
Both Escobar and Walsh are from Huntington Beach, KESQ reported.
The football star attended San Diego State before he was drafted in 2013 by the Cowboys, where he played for the majority of his career.
He also played for the Chiefs, Ravens, Dolphins, and Browns before hanging up his jersey in 2019.
In February 2022, Escobar started as a firefighter with the Long Beach Fire Department.
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The department shared a announcing his death after the body was identified.
"It is with deep sadness that we announce the off-duty death of Long Beach Firefighter Gavin Escobar,"; the department wrote.
"Hired on February 5, 2022, Firefighter Escobar was assigned to Fire Station 3 on B-shift.
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"Prior to being a Long Beach Firefighter, Gavin Escobar played professional football for the NFL where he spent most of his time with the Dallas Cowboys."
Escobar is survived by his wife and two young children.