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Activity
Sport rock climbing
When
Ascending
Injury
Serious injury requiring medical treatment
Incident
Leader was climbing a steep sport climbing bolt-to-bolt (i.e. resting on each bolt).
Both leader and belayer appeared to be relatively inexperienced sport climbers.
Leader moved away from 4th bolt and fell off at around 10m.
Belayer did not hold the fall and the leader hit the ground.
Leader was airlifted to hospital after initial support from Mountain Rescue.
Head and lower back injuries.
Lessons
Belayer was using a conventional tube-style belay device and they were climbing on a new rope. Greater familiarity with the slickness of this system, or the use of an assisted belay device, may have helped.
Belayer was not wearing belay gloves, which may have helped secure the dead rope with this system.
Possible lack of communication between climbers. Better communication and belayer vigilance may have helped.
Climbers were not wearing helmets which would have limited head injury.
Causes
Belaying failure or error
Anonymous?
Yes
Reported By
Observer
Wearing Helmets?
No
Rescue Services Involved?
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue https://www.uwfra.org.uk/incidents-full.php?thisincident=25
Ambulance
Paramedic
Air Ambulance
Author
5 June 2020 at 15:09:43
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