Loading...
Activity
Sport rock climbing
When
Ascending
Injury
Minor injury
Incident
Last Sunday I was on a warm up route at the LHS of Bram crag quarry with a mate. He'd just led the route (combination of Bolt from the blue and Looper) We pulled the ropes and I led it....just before the last clip on the upper section of Looper, a lump of rock about the size of a large frying pan and 4" thick dropped from a series of underlings above me and twatted me on the leg. Fortunately it had only dropped a metre before it hit me (bruised leg and fortunately I managed to cling on) and just missed my mate below. Had I been 5m lower it probably would have taken me out serious fashion.
I had not touched the piece of rock, it just decided to drop off when I was near it. My mate doesn't think he used when he was clipping the bol on his ascent. We are both older experienced climbers in the age range 57-60, capable of 7a onsite sport climbing and currently E2/3 trad (though both have led up to E4/5 when we were younger) We were both aware of loose rock at the quarry. At least one of us wont be going back there to climb again.
Lessons
Random, fortunately none serious, accident which fits a pattern of incidents at the quarry.
Causes
Falling rock, snow, ice or object
Anonymous?
No
Reported By
Participant
Wearing Helmets?
Yes
Rescue Services Involved?
None
Author
Mal Weightman
10 June 2022 at 13:21:20
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.
If you have a concern regarding this report please contact us at incidentreports@thebmc.co.uk