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Date of Incident

04/10/2023

Country

Wales

Route

Incident

Seconding climb to finish off day. Drizzle of rain here and there, group new to particular crag but familiar with area. Combination of RCI assessed and trained climbers. Loose, choosy rock at top of the whole crag let alone the climb. Novelty and grade of climb could have contributed to looser terrain. When pulling out of the last slab on the right, climbers hold broke and pulled rock approximately the size of 2 microwaves onto himself. In turn boulder hit climbers right leg leading to a broken knee and soft tissue damage. Climber got hauled on a 3:1 system and carried to closest access road.

Lessons

Subsequently to the accident we've learnt the importance of having the appropriate rescue skills on top only access crags. Additionally this has been a reminder of the unpredictability of natural environments. Moving forward double check your holds!

Activity

Trad rock climbing

When

Ascending

Injury

Serious injury requiring medical treatment

Causes

Hold breaking

Anonymous?

No

Reported By

Partner and Rescuer

Wearing Helmets?

Yes

Rescue Services Involved?

N/A

Image shows rock pulled out, circled in blue. Climber on route is from earlier in the day.

Author

Dafydd

5 October 2023 at 11:30:06

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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