Belay accident. Your two eyes are your only double-checking mechanism.

Belay accident. Belayed or Betrayed? 😱 Climbing Fail Breakdown!Ever put your trust in a belayer, only to get sent straight to the ground? In this climbing fails review, we "TruBlue Speed" auto-belay fixed at the top of an indoor climbing route An auto belay (or autobelay) is a mechanical device for belaying in indoor climbing walls, in both training and competition climbing formats. No deaths, but… Explore the details of the auto belay accident and its implications. Most auto belays are clipped at the bottom to a big triangle that is in your way to start the route. Based on both rumor and inference from the messaging, this looks like a fixed-gear failure, and no part of that system should fail catastrophically if maintained correctly. org. Photo: masT3rOD /Flickr Seeing auto-belay sections closed is a sign of good safety practice. Someone leads the first pitch of Rewritten or a nearby climb. I'd be interested to see some numbers on auto belays versus bouldering accidents. I Oct 27, 2015 · Search on "cinch accident" and you'll get plenty of hits. Aug 19, 2021 · As per usual, a brouhaha began on Mountain Project after Frohbieter’s posted about his accident, with some offering support and well wishes, but many calling the accident a hoax and requesting “proof. Apr 17, 2018 · No operator of any aerial adventure wants guests to be hanging by a thread, figuratively speaking. " This month, we cover an increasingly common gym accident involving an auto belay; and the risk of rock fall at outdoor crags. That's why in most German gyms you're (theoretically) not allowed to use Auto-Belays on Last night I was leading and was hanging when i looked over at another climber friend about to reach for the finishing move on a fifty foot wall. Lucas said, "The belayer, knowing that t During a training camp with French coaches, a professional climber was dropped from the top of the wall due to improper use of a GriGri. The accident took place when a van, carrying 26 people, collided with a trailer coming from the opposite direction. Last month, the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) released updated Auto Belay Guidance in hope of reducing auto belay incidents and improve the culture of responsibility in the sport of climbing. Jan 15, 2024 · The industry has experienced at least two auto-belay deaths in the past three years and several serious injuries related to auto-belays. Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3 have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1, We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. “Maybe it was defective; maybe it wasn’t put on properly. Terrebonne is the closest town to Smith Rock State Park. May 15, 2024 · A stranger he met at the gym dropped him to the ground. The researchers were surprised at the incidence of injuries from top-rope climbing, as top-rope was assumed "safer" than lead climbing or Feb 23, 2024 · A 22-year-old climber fell 50 feet after forgetting to clip into the belay device at the bottom of the climb in a Polish gym. Oct 21, 2024 · The auto belay device backup brake can fail to activate, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury or death. The data shows that these accidents occur among both new and experienced climbers. [5] Jim Hewett, a friend of Skinner, had previously observed that the harness appeared worn. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. After tumbling 35 meters, he came to rest on a ledge Mar 4, 2025 · The fall occurred during a warm-up on the lead wall. Sep 22, 2023 · A three-year lawsuit over an auto-belay accident has ended in a $6 million combined payout from the climbing gym and the auto-belay manufacturer. Jan 29, 2025 · In a tragic incident, nine Indian nationals were killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia's Jizan region. She slipped and felland kept falling. I’ve seen outside almost-accidents like this esp if belayer isn't wearing belay gloves, is used to using a grigri, or the rope is new/super slick. ” Others, meanwhile, took to lambasting both Frohbieter and climbing gym, or both, for the injury. Jan 22, 2025 · Gym and Auto Belay Manufacturer to Pay $6M in Settlement for Auto Belay Accident Vertical World and Perfect Descent manufacture settle with climber who sustained 30-foot fall Feb 20, 2021 · TCA talks to the survivor of an auto belay no-clip accident. Jun 27, 2025 · In 2006, Todd Skinner passed away at the age of 47 as a leading big-wall free climber in a 500-foot fall in Yosemite. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about belaying, from the basics to more advanced techniques. Photo / Supplied The victim of an accident at New Zealand's biggest indoor climbing Oct 27, 2022 · Bryan states: “We use a double wrap belay bar which I believe cuts down on the frequency and severity of lowering accidents. P. The belay carabiner is still attached to the anchor at the beginning of the clip. The following report describes an accident in the Canadian Rockies that will be published in the upcoming 2024 Accidents in North American Climbing. Sep 22, 2023 · Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3, which produces Perfect Descent auto belays, have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1 Sep 25, 2023 · More than four years after a climber fell 30 feet while using an auto-belay device at a Seattle climbing gym, the manufacturer and gym have agreed to settle a lawsuit for $6 million. In the case of this accident, the belayer’s device unclipped from his harness just as the leader fell. Mar 3, 2025 · A few weeks ago, a climber in the Netherlands was pretty badly injured when the webbing (!) of an auto belay apparently snapped, causing them to fall from approximately 8 meters. If you’re interested in climbing, then you need to know how to belay. I usually don't share such stories that people send to me, but maybe like seeing a car crash makes people slow down, seeing this will be a good reminder to take belaying seriously. Sep 23, 2023 · A 3-year lawsuit over an auto-belay accident has ended in a $6 million mixed payout from the climbing fitness center and the auto-belay producer. Dropped and fall not stopped using all kinds of different devices. We believe removing auto belays will reduce the probability of an accident—sparing not only the injured climber, but also the other climbers in the gym, our team members, and the community. Jul 11, 2023 · This accident had a happy ending and contained a powerful lesson. Bouldering injuries were primarily due to falls on the mat. Quote Replies26 Created15 yr Last Reply 15 yr 4 2 2 2 Sep 5 Sep 7 Sep 6 Sep 20 Jeepenfool95 4 Apr 30, 2021 · Seattle’s Vertical World climbing gym is fighting a $1,000,000 lawsuit brought by an injured gym member, who allegedly fell off an auto-belay route after failing to fully clip in. Sep 27, 2023 · Vertical World and C3 Manufacturing recently agreed to pay a climber $6 million, one of the largest settlements in the climbing gym industry’s history, following an auto belay accident. It's always horribly tragic when reporting on one of our own ApexSpeed members. I am grateful for her training. https://www. Oct 27, 2015 · It goes without saying that the accident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of correct, attentive belaying at all times, regardless of the belay device used. Aug 31, 2023 · The settlement comes as a result of a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Seattle climber who suffered life-altering injuries after a 30-foot fall from a climbing wall due to a defective auto-belay device. It is important to note that the majority of auto-belay-related incidents and deaths are not a result of the malfunction of the auto-belay itself. Bottom line: catch the climber. Mar 5, 2025 · A coach nearly killed a professional climber last year due to improper Petzl GriGri use. In the auto belay scenario you lack an extra set of eyes. Listen to Sam's story and her wise words of advice to help climbers avoid this mistake. Sep 28, 2024 · Australia - Australian Climbing Accident Register, “a volunteer-only project to promote open discussion of incidents and near miss events in recreational climbing in Australia. 2 days ago · Todd Skinners failed harness - update - SuperTopo's climbing discussion forum is the world's most popular community discussion forum for people who actively climb outdoors. The highest certified guy who is my instructor told me they have more accidents in the bouldering areas then they do with auto-belay and other "standard" climbing accidents combined. The leader uses a Cinch to belay his second. May 15, 2022 · A tossed rock and a lost belay would have killed this leader if not for a miraculous landing among the boulders. Rope and belay systems are extremely effective, if used correctly, and it should no longer be necessary - or even advantageous - to alert your belayer to the likelihood of a fall or even to make sure they are paying close attention. , in an auto-belay accident. This video breaks down the accident and includes comments from the victim. The accident was a result of the failure of the belay loop of his climbing harness. Almost exactly a year ago, a climber fell, unroped, from the fourth-pitch belay anchor of a 15-pitch climb. Photo: masT3rOD /Flickr These accidents are so common - a woman fell in our gym as well just a couple of weeks ago due to failing to clip in (luckily only minor injuries), and I really struggle to understand it. Jun 16, 2021 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. The device enables a climber to ascend indoor routes on a top rope but without the need for a human belaying partner. Aug 30, 2018 · Pulleys and cables on the climbing wall Selena McLeod was at the scene with her family and witnessed the accident. Feb 7, 2024 · Auto Belay Safety and Failures Can an auto belay fail? Though auto belay accidents happen every year, deaths are uncommon. While reviewing last year’s accidents, a particularly improbable incident stood out. My gym has several large bouldering areas. The Indian Consulate in Saudi Arabia gave information about the incident and mourned the Oct 26, 2006 · 10/26/06 - Although an official investigation remains to be completed, it appears increasingly likely that a broken belay loop on Todd Skinner’s harness caused his death. Given a different device, yeah this person may have been able to stop a fall or they may not have, it is all speculation. Jan 25, 2023 · Your monthly dose of climbing accident analysis from the editors of "Accidents in North American Climbing. This is why you perform the super quick safety check before climbing any wall, making sure you are tied in to the rope with a proper figure 8 through both harness loops, or properly clipped into the autobelay. However, if the staff said there was an accident, it suggests they weren't closing the stations regularly enough. As of October 1, 2024, the company has received no reports of incidents or injury in Canada. Auto Belay Accident—Climber Fell 45 ft due to tiny distractions leading to one big mistake in the gym Oct 25, 2021 · A young man has passed away following a 43-foot fall off an autobelay-equipped route at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in Sydney, Australia. Belay systems—keeping aerial adventure participants securely attached to a lifeline to prevent injurious falls—are essential for reducing or even controlling risk when guests are up in the air. Is rock climbing safe? Rock climbing is one of the safest outdoor sports, however there have been a many accidents over the years. This horrible accident could have been prevented. Mar 5, 2025 · The climber suffered several serious injuries including a broken back. even if the cause of the accident was failure to use the auto-belay altogether. No buddy check and people just forget to clip in. How come nobody questioned or corrected the belayer before the accident? Certainly there are a lot of contributing factors, but in the end it is 100% on the belayer. #tok #bereketsimon #luke1233-34 Dec 10, 2019 · Helen Cassidy of The Climbing Academy, a UK-based chain of climbing gyms, reached out to us to share the story of Sam, an experienced climber who recently took a fall from an unclipped auto belay. but like how does that even happen You can look up reports about Auto belay accidents, it happens kind of regularly. An Incident information release about a person who fell while using an auto-belay device in an indoor climbing gym. Also: Book about accidents in Chile by Rodrigo Fica France - SERAC Dec 28, 2022 · How you hold the rope is just one aspect of the belay—no more or less important than vigilance, rope management, how and where you stand, and communication. Jan 29, 2025 · The road accident occurred near Baish in Jizan city in western Saudi Arabia. ” Austria Britain - the British mountaineering Council (BMC) publishes accident reports. Or they do multiple routes in a row, unclip for a short break and forget to clip back in. Following the proper procedures and protocols, the risk of equipment failure can be substantially reduced. Jan 20, 2022 · Similarly, avoid asking questions of someone who is belaying or climbing. For the third year in a row, Sara Al Qunaibet wins gold in Saudi Arabia’s national lead climbing competition. Learn from the stories of those involved. s. RIP, Jim. While Sam was very lucky to walk away from the accident with her life, the impacts of this experience are real. scca. Apr 29, 2021 · Seattle’s Vertical World climbing gym is fighting a $1,000,000 lawsuit brought by an injured gym member, who allegedly fell off an auto-belay route after failing to fully clip in. Unfortunately the professional belayer was busy chatting and wasn’t holding the GriGri correctly, leading to the horrific fall. Feb 8, 2024 · An informal post on a climbing forum titled "Auto-belay Accident" is the most perfect, concise way to tell a reader, they are going to read about a climbing accident that occurred on an auto-belay. Belaying is one of the most important skills a climber can learn, and it’s essential for keeping yourself and your partner safe while climbing. com/articles/201865er-james-belay Nov 22, 2021 · In June, a woman died at Ascent Climbing & Fitness in Fort Collins, Colo. They also point out that all the accidents that have happened in the gym have been caused by human error, not by a malfunction of the . Sep 14, 2010 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Feb 27, 2017 · Belay On? It’s hard to argue with stats, but many of Onsight’s members are extremely upset with the new policy. Old habits, however, die hard, which is understandable. I don’t know. Sep 4, 2020 · This one comes from Lucas Zimmerann, a features a climber named Luciano climbing an overhanging wall in Bagé, Brazil. When you have a self-belay accident it tends to be catastrophic. A new video from Hard is Easy includes an interview with the climber and a deep dive into how to properly use a GriGri. A larger auto-belay gate will be put in place and auto-belay inductions with competent climbers will remain in place. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Sara reached the top reached the top and let go, expecting the belayer to catch her. Most of the accidents have happened when climbers were well into their climbing session. I don't know the statistics, but I'd wager that lowering/rappelling accidents are more common, or more frequently serious/fatal. Must have assumed magic would catch them?? Jul 8, 2024 · Jim Belay I just saw this on Facebook regarding an on track accident. Unfortunately these accidents are still occurring in the UK even though best current practice is in place. In the accident's aftermath, the author had to relearn how to climb—and to trust. As with most auto-belay accidents, user failure is the major cause. Mar 2, 2025 · A professional climber suffered severe injuries after a belayer’s improper use of a GriGri led to a 13-meter fall, sparking discussions on climbing safety and proper belay techniques. ” Remembering Eric Klimt (February 8, 1980–March 9, 2016) Before his death, Klimt was moving west from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Terrebonne, Oregon. The device, which is permanently mounted in a fixed position at Oct 14, 2021 · The climbing gym in Fort Collins released a statement Tuesday, and said the auto-belay systems that keep climbers from falling will not be used at least until a full investigation is completed. Jun 21, 2021 · A woman has died following an auto-belay accident at Ascent Studio Climbing & Fitness, in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Saturday, June 12. And while safety is obviously the overwhelming Feb 25, 2025 · If you're not falling at least sometimes, you're not trying. . Be a good manager The amount of rope the belayer pays out varies and is a matter of experience and common sense. All it takes is one mistake to create an accident you will always regret. End of rope slipping out of belay device. Grace Thompson faces months in a wheelchair after a life-changing injury at the Extreme Edge climbing wall. I know you're being flippant, but it's important to highlight that the accident happened while lowering. She was a foot or two above the last clip and was at the anchor after this final move. Although auto-belay gates were in place, this does not always prevent these sort of accidents. They argue that tube devices are safe and point to their many accident-free years using them. ” The rock wall has since In this highly unusual accident, the carabiner on the rope-bearing end of an alpine quickdraw appears to have acted like a belay device configured in guide mode. Get Sep 5, 2007 · The situation/accident you described was not caused by the device, but by the inexperience that the belayer had. Oct 21, 2021 · The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym has confirmed that the failure of a special climbing device, called an autobelay, caused a man to fall to his death. Your two eyes are your only double-checking mechanism. Lack of attention is a leading cause of belay accidents. If your belayer primarily topropes indoors, those are almost always heavy and slow/thick ropes. May 1, 2025 · Before the accident, Al Qunaibet wasn’t simply a competition climber; she was a breakout star on Saudi Arabia’s brand-new national team. The person likely had not used one before. There's one particular accident that comes to my mind a few years back in Eldo. Head Rush is the leading engineer and manufacture of adventure recreation equipment for the climbing, zip line, and amusement industries with their auto belay, free fall and braking systems. Oct 29, 2018 · Lead Belaying Mistakes Account for Climbing Accidents Most of the injuries in lead and top-rope climbing were due to belaying mistakes at 10 cases out of 23 lead/top rope climbing accidents logged. I was being certified to climb at a small gym with an auto belay and he was telling me the most common accident in climbing gyms is people forgetting to clip into the autobelay because there is no one to double check. Sep 23, 2016 · One of the main elements in the auto belay set-up that is different from regular top rope climbing, is the absence of a partner. Failure of gear can result in serious consequences. Aug 15, 2024 · The following report describes an accident in the Canadian Rockies that will be published in the upcoming 2024 Accidents in North American Climbing. Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s Most of these auto-belay accidents have been people who don't tie in or don't tie in correctly. ” The double wrap technique is a game-changer. Our head instructor had a friend of hers die from a belay accident many years ago and she absolutely took belaying as serious as she could and made sure every student worker she trained knew how to belay effectively and safely regardless of the conditions outdoors. Chile - Annual review of accidents from escalando. Use this as an opportunity to brush up on your belaying skills – see three tips here. What happens if you let go of auto belay? Sep 24, 2024 · A fine imposed on an indoor trampolining company after a child fell four metres from a climbing wall has been more than tripled to $40,000 following an appeal. On December 14, Adam Herzog (43) suffered severe head trauma, 15 fractures, spinal injury, and other trauma after failing to clip into an auto-belay in a climbing gym. Peters location when an accident on an auto-belay system occurred. Sep 6, 2023 · Hector Diffut, 26, fell 30 feet from the top of an indoor wall after forgetting to clip into the auto belay. Feb 24, 2025 · Did everyone else there think the belayer's technique was ok before the accident? I doubt that is the first time for the belayer to belay someone. We’ll also show you how to choose the right belay Dec 14, 2024 · The family was traveling together when the fatal crash occurred Dubai: Seven members of a single family tragically lost their lives in a devastating accident on the Khurais Al Ahsa road. Sep 21, 2023 · Seattle's Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3, which produces Perfect Descent auto belays, have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1 Oct 22, 2021 · A man, reported to be in his 30s, was climbing at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym’s St. There are many belay systems now on the market. Odds of that happening? Nearly impossible odds, but in climbing we need to account for the unexpected and use stringent safety measures including double checking that our belay device is locked on. Feb 8, 2024 · As far as inanimate objects go, quickdraws are not ideal belayers. We had a few accidents here with the devices - they let go lowering, causing a free fall and grounding. Annual or bi-annual inspections, as required by the manufacturer, involve disassembly, inspection, repair, testing and recertification of the unit. 51 votes, 85 comments. ” Furthermore, the press release stated that the accident was caused by “improper supervision by Vertical World staff, and inadequate training for climbers by Vertical World. Fort Collins Police Services spokesperson Brandon Barnes told The Coloradoan that the climber fell from about 40 feet up in the auto-belay area. Other than that, I'll just echo the advice to belay as tight as you can any time the climber is effectively on top rope, especially for up to 3 bolts or even 1/3 or 1/2 up the route. Moved PermanentlyThe document has moved here. “When I looked up, the carabiner, which was supposed to be attached to his harness, was still attached to the top of the auto-belaying device and it was open,” McLeod said. Mar 21, 2016 · It’s something I think we’re seeing [every year] now. apart from I'm curious how it plays out. Sep 21, 2023 · The law office representing Vandivere, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala Attorneys at Law, stated in a press release that Vandivere fell “due to a defective auto-belay device. How is it possible to go up without having a rope attached to you? Wouldn't you notice it? Whenever I go on the autobelay I check that I'm still attached in the beginning, at least once on the way up and Something to be aware of: there's a difference between an auto belay failing due to some design or manufacturing flaw and failing due to wear and tear. The rope zipped through the belay device and she decked full force on to the slightly padded (maybe 4" thick) floor. Thank you so much to Absolutely. One of the main elements in the auto belay set-up that is different from regular top rope climbing, is the absence of a partner. pxmj mhxl rmdzmr umbrbcb ftsrwfk vgmvh gaknym vzmp xiogkl htkrs