Incident
I was climbing an adjacent route and witnessed the incident. I do not know the climbers involved; I think they were British climbers.The weather was fair, not windy. My instructor assisted in the evacuation by lowering the injured person and called the helicopter, so explained how the incident occurred. The climber, seconding, climbed past a clipped bolt without unclipping, called for slack and continued upwards. The belayer must have kept giving slack and eventually the climber fell a very long way, with two full rotations and hitting the slab several times. Injuries included a broken arm, shoulder injury, puncture wound, not sure what else but was able to stand up.
Lessons
Communication - belayer should question why a call for slack.
Do not assume your second knows what they are doing.
Never pay out loads of slack to a second.
Activity
Sport rock climbing
When
Ascending
Injury
Serious injury requiring medical treatment
Causes
Belaying failure or error, Error by second and belayer
Anonymous?
Yes
Reported By
Observer
Wearing Helmets?
Yes
Rescue Services Involved?
Spanish emergency helicopter and British instructors in the vicinity who gave first aid, lowered the patient and called 112
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.