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A 48-year-old mother-of-two who died after falling from a waterfall near San Diego while trying to rescue a teenage girl who was stuck on a ledge has been described as 'joyous, kind and caring' by heartbroken friends. 

California artist Sarah Louise Crocker sustained 'multiple blunt force injuries' on her chest and right pelvis before drowning in the popular hiking area of Three Sisters Falls just before 10am on June 8, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

Experienced walker Crocker, who leaves behind her husband Brad, and teenage children Owen and Delaney, had been visiting the Descanso waterfalls with a group of family friends when tragedy struck.

The Laguna Beach-born mother noticed that one of four teenagers in the group -reportedly a 15-year-old girl - slipped while they were hiking along a ledge over the middle of three plunge pools. 

Crocker reached out to prevent the girl from falling over the edge, but lost her footing, and they went tumbling towards a rocky-bottomed ravine. 

Sarah Louise Crocker was hiking at the Three Sisters Falls in Descanso, California, when she tumbled to her death as she tried to help a teenage girl who was stuck on a ledge 

The 'talented and accomplished' artist leaves behind her husband, Brad, daughter, Delaney, and son Owen following the June 8 tragedy

Bystanders called 911 and walkers attempted CPR, while San Diego sheriffs also attended the scene. 

The 15-year-old girl was taken from the Cleveland National Forest site to a hospital via helicopter with 'severe' but not life-threatening injuries. 

The 48-year-old was an experienced hiker who ran an Orange County walking club and loved nature

Footage captured by onlookers shows the moment a chopper arrived at the scene, gradually descending between grassy crags towards a cluster of people seen from a afar at the foot of a waterfall.  

Crocker sustained 'multiple blunt force injuries' particularly to her 'chest and right pelvis' and died at the scene due to this combined with drowning, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. 

Heartbroken friends and relatives have paid tribute to Crocker, who raised her daughter and son in Ladera Ranch, Orange County, California. 

In a fundraiser established for her children, they described her as a 'much-loved' wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, an 'amazing human being', and a 'talented and accomplished artist'. 

'Sarah was pure joy,' they said. 'Her love of family, friends and all things outdoors made her special to all who knew her... Sarah was a joyous, kind, and caring woman who will be missed tremendously.'

Crocker was an experienced hiker who led a walking club as well as elementary school trips at The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, according to the page, which has so far raised more than $16,000.   

Crocker has been described as an 'active' part of the community who helped out at several societies, including her daughter's A4 Volleyball Club, and her son's robotics team at Capistrano Valley High School

The walker's 'love of family, friends and all things outdoors made her special to all who knew her', her close friends have said

A fundraiser for Crocker's children had already raised more than $16,000 within a day 

The moment a helicopter descended to the scene of the tragedy was caught on camera by onlookers before it airlifted the severely injured teenage girl to hospital

As well as the fundraising page, friends have paid tribute to Crocker via Facebook with photographs and heartfelt posts

Her death also comes as a huge loss to the local community, as she was known for playing an 'active' role in several societies, including her daughter's A4 Volleyball Club, and her son's robotics team at Capistrano Valley High School. 

The fundraiser states that all donations will go to the Crocker family. 

Crocker's friend, named on Facebook as Kim Pho Hewlett, paid tribute to the 48-year-old in a heartfelt post. 

Alongside a picture of them both on another hike, she said: 'Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort tomorrow... RIP my friend.'

Three Sisters Falls is described by the US Forest Service as 'three large waterfalls wedged between tall, rocky mountains' which offers an 'often crowded, yet challenging' trail for 'extreme hiking, mountain climbing, and rock traversing'. 

The service said the area has 'recently undergone some new developments' in an attempt to reduce 'injury risks and casualty rates'. 

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