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Date of Incident

04/05/2024

Country

England

Activity

Sport rock climbing

When

Ascending

Injury

Serious injury requiring medical treatment

Incident

Summary of information reported by those at the scene:
At least 3 experienced members of the club had climbed the route without issue. The route was one tier up from the bottom of the quarry. On ascending, the climber shouted down to warn the belayer and those below of rockfall. A large rock the size of a beach ball fell and hit the ground next to the belayer. The rock ricocheted from the ground and hit the belayed on the right side of their trunk. The rock rolled off the tier and to the bottom level of the quarry. Climbers shouted to warn those below. No one was injured on the bottom tier.
The climber on the route was brought to a safe position and the belayer was released from the belay. People attended to the injured belayer by making them as comfortable as possible. The emergency services (and mountain rescue) were called and the injured person was taken to hospital where they required medical intervention.

Lessons

Continue to encourage all club members to wear helmets when climbing/belaying/at the crag

Encourage use of an assisted breaking device when belaying

Our club will give written and verbal crag safety briefings on club trips

Encourage assessing routes: checking ukc for recent reports of rockfall, when at the crag look a the route for rock the may be loose, when climbing test the rock before putting weight on.

Encourage having what 3 words app to be able to tell emergency services precise location

Encourgage club members to call emergency services if in doubt over how serious injuries are

Causes

Falling rock, snow, ice or object, Hold breaking

Anonymous?

Yes

Reported By

Climbing club committee member

Wearing Helmets?

Yes

Rescue Services Involved?

Author

4 June 2024 at 06:05:26

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

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