Rock climber pronounced dead at Red Rock identified

The Clark County Coroner’s office has identified the rock climber who was pronounced dead Thursday morning at Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Las Vegas resident Thomas Allard, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene after Metro’s Search and Rescue Team responded at about 9:20 a.m. to a report of a rock climber who was possibly experiencing a medical episode at the Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Allard was rock climbing with his wife, Laurie. His son Ashley Allard, explained rock that climbing was their “passion” and “favorite thing to do together.”

Although the coroner has not released the cause and manner of Thomas’ death, it appears he had a cardiac episode while he was climbing, Ashley said. Thomas had collapsed on the wall, but didn’t fall because he was in a harness, Ashley said.

Laurie was belaying him as he collapsed, and when he had reached the ground, he had no pulse, Ashley said.

Ashley explained his parents’ love for rock climbing which began in 2011, saying, “there was no better way for him to go.”

Though Thomas had a heart valve replacement back in 2001, he had a “healthy heart” and had never experienced troubles climbing before, Ashley said.

Rock climbing was his parents’ “favorite place to be,” Ashley said.

Contact Jessica Terrones at jterrones@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find her on Twitter: @JessATerrones