15-year-old South Lake Tahoe student dies in rock climbing accident near Emerald Bay

The South Lake Tahoe community is mourning the loss of a 15-year-old who died in a rock climbing accident near Emerald Bay last week.The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a report of the accident on Thursday in the area of Eagle Falls Trailhead. They found Noah Ortega-Pourol about 400 yards from the trailhead suffering from traumatic injuries after having fallen while rock climbing. He died despite lifesaving efforts by deputies and medical personnel at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. The Lake Tahoe Unified School District sent a message to families that noted Ortega-Pourol was a sophomore at South Tahoe High School. The message said counselors would be available at the high school on Monday to support students and staff. “Our hearts are with Noah’s family, friends, and all who are impacted by this loss,” the district’s message said. “We hold them in our thoughts and extend our deepest condolences as they navigate this unimaginable grief.”The district also shared a GoFundMe created by friends of Ortega-Pourol’s family to raise money for funeral expenses. “Noah was your typical boy, full of energy and chasing adventure,” a description on the fundraising site reads. “You'd often find him playing sports, cheering on his beloved Raiders and spending time with his friends and family.” See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel