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Incident
A team of 3 climbers were top roping a route at the end of the day as the last climb before dusk fell.
As the climber ascended, the two climbers at the base chatted.
When the first ascender reached the top of the route, visible on the skyline to the two climbers at the base, including the belayer, he gave a 'thumbs-up' signal.
The belayer interpreted this as 'safe' and took the climber off belay. The climber then shouted down 'Why have you taken me off belay'. The belayer put him back on belay and lowered him to the ground.
Lessons
If the climber had weighted the rope after signalling, he would have fallen the entire length of the route, and most likely suffered severe injury. This was a very close near miss.
Things that should have happened, but which did not:
1. The climber and belayer should have discussed if the climber was going to top out or be lowered. Each had made a different assumption. The belayer thought the climber would top out, but the climber intended to return to the base of the route.
2. The belayer should have checked that the climber was safe before taking him off belay, instead of relying on an ambiguous signal.
3. The belayer should have kept safety uppermost in his mind, instead of allowing himself to be distracted by the other climber at the base.
Activity
Trad rock climbing
When
Descending
Injury
No injury
Causes
Belaying failure or error
Anonymous?
Yes
Reported By
Participant
Wearing Helmets?
Yes
Rescue Services Involved?
None
Author
1 April 2021 at 06:57:27
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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.