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Date of Incident

19/07/2020

Country

England

Incident

Chalkstorm is a route which climbs a short slab (~4 metres) to a break where gear can be placed then follows another slab to the top (~10 metres, to give a 14 metre route). The crux move is stepping off good footholds just above the break. I (Tom) completed this move and was moving steadily up the slab. I gained some crimps with my hands at around 8-10 metres off the floor and it being a hot day my fingers slipped off them. I felt myself pulling away from the rock and almost recovered it by really bearing down with my right hand on the crimp but it didn't work and I fell, turning away from the rock as I did so. I was too far above the gear for it to be of any use so hit the deck. This led to a swollen left ankle, which was treated at the Northern General hospital the day after with a moon boot to wear for 4 weeks, and diagnosed as a bad sprain with a very minor chip fracture off the back of the heel. Skidding down the slab also ripped holes in my trousers seat!

Lessons

Pick better conditions conducive to friction slabs.

Activity

Trad rock climbing

When

Ascending

Injury

Serious injury requiring medical treatment, Minor injury

Causes

Slip, trip or fall

Anonymous?

No

Reported By

Participant

Wearing Helmets?

Yes

Rescue Services Involved?

N/A

To go with Tom Young incident at the Roaches.
To go with Tom Young incident at the Roaches.
To go with Tom Young incident at the Roaches.

Author

Tom Young

2 September 2020 at 11:42:42

For more advice and guidance on good practices visit BMC skills

All reports are self-submitted and have not been edited by the BMC in any way, so please keep an open mind regarding the lessons and causes of each incident or near-miss. 

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