Gavin Escobar, a former NFL player who has played five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, and also became a firefighter expert with the Long Beach Fire Department has died in a California rock-climbing accident.
The ex-NFL player-turned firefighter was only 31-year-old, where one of two climbers who were found by the first responders at Tahquitz Rock near Idyllwild in the San Bernardino National Forest on Wednesday, authorities said on Twitter.
“Rescuers made access to the location of the victims,” the Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department also added in the following tweet that Gavin Escobar and 33-year-old Chelsea Walsh had both “perished at the scene.”
Gavin Escobar served in the NFL for five years – he also took to the field at San Diego State University, where he was known as the two-time first-team-all-Mountain West Conference Player. Moreover, he was also honored with the scholar-athlete, as per his high school alma mater.
“Forever in our hearts,” the Cowboys tweeted alongside an image of Escobar wearing the number 89 shirt. San Diego State Football added, “We love you, Gavin.”
After taking retirement from pro football, Escobar joined the fire department of Long Beach in the month of February of this year, which the agency also confirmed his death news on Facebook.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the off-duty death of Long Beach Firefighter Gavin Escobar,” the post began.
“Hired on February 5, 2022, Firefighter Escobar was assigned to Fire Station 3 on B-shift. Prior to being a Long Beach Firefighter, Gavin Escobar played professional football for the #NFL where he spent most of his time with the #DallasCowboys.”
According to NBC 7 San Diego, Gavin Escobar leaves behind his wife, Sarah, along with two young daughters Charlotte and Josey.
