Belay accident He had “forgotten” his belay device. 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. Fort Collins Police Services spokesperson Brandon Barnes told The Coloradoan that the climber fell from about 40 feet up in the auto-belay area. Learn more about belaying accidents, rappelling accidents, trad anchor accidents, and more —and what Moved Permanently. ” Others, meanwhile, took to lambasting both Frohbieter and climbing gym, or both, for the injury. In September, after a four year long legal battle over an auto belay accident, Vertical World publicly announced a shocking $6m settlement. Planning an ascender belay that was believed would "only" result in the stripping of the rope sheath was poor judgment from the start. I have climbed for 25 years and used an ATC almost exclusively. Thankfully, we haven’t had an accident involving auto belays at any of our facilities. Jan 29, 2025 · The accident took place when a van, carrying 26 people, collided with a trailer coming from the opposite direction. They couldn't replicate the failure though. Media coverage about the settlement: Gym and Auto Belay Manufacturer to Pay $6M in Settlement for Auto Belay Accident, Outside, 9/21/23. So the lawyers are saying the gym is negligent for not watching and making sure it's working, while the gym blames C3. Sam, who started climbing 15 years ago with her daughter, had been climbing constantly on auto belay for around an hour, on the day of her accident. Maybe they clipped into something other than their belay loop. Authorities have not yet released the woman’s name. Jan 25, 2023 · Your monthly dose of climbing accident analysis from the editors of "Accidents in North American Climbing. Last We take climbing accidents from our renowned yearly publication "Accidents in North American Climbing" and distill important climbing lessons from them, thanks to expert accident analysis. Standing Belay 84 Marketing Assistants. Dec 26, 2014 · The single, unassailable thing to take away from all of these accidents (with gri-gris, cinchs, smart alpines, VRCs, Mega-Juls, etc) is that no device is idiot-proof, and the most important single cause of belay accidents is some idiot like yourself promoting any device as idiot-proof. You can look up reports about Auto belay accidents, it happens kind of regularly. A BELAY Marketing Assistant offers busy leaders the flexible support they need to enhance their marketing impact. Lack of attention is a leading cause of belay accidents. Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym has since reopened, albeit now without any autobelays. - We received the report at 4:44 p. Sounds, sadly like the most basic belay error: grabbing the wrong rope. 0 Mar 5, 2025 · A coach nearly killed a professional climber last year due to improper Petzl GriGri use. It was a very busy day, she had a lot on her mind, but didn’t think that would impact on her climbing. Apr 24, 2023 · An auto belay is a mechanical device that is used in rock climbing to provide an effective and efficient way of lowering a climber to the ground after they have completed their climb. Sources These are the prime sources for the part about it being a problem with the webbing (it was also covered in national media, though pretty briefly): 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. 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. NEW MEMBER OFFER! Get 40% off KAYA PRO, the ultimate climber’s toolkit More than half of all lowering accidents reported in Accidents in the past decade occurred when the rope end shot through a belay device and the climber fell uncontrollably. Oct 22, 2021 · A man, reported to be in his 30s, was climbing at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym’s St. **The man was climbing without belay** The accident at the Skarpa Bytom-Rozbark Climbing Center occurred on Friday, February 2, 2024, after 4:00 p. But there were signs. The road accident occurred near Baish in Jizan city in western Saudi Arabia. Sep 6, 2023 · Hector Diffut, 26, fell approximately 30 feet from the top of a 5. No buddy check and people just forget to clip in. 13c, was clipped into an auto belay doing hard burns on his current project, a 5. BE A GOOD MANAGER Reading in some other post. 11 dihedral route nearby. The police report that a 22-year-old man fell off the climbing wall. Edit: SinRopa, auto belays usually have auto twist 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. Be a good manager Jul 8, 2024 · I just saw this on Facebook regarding an on track accident. Doch immer wieder kommt es dennoch zu Zwischenfällen und Unfällen. He died at the scene under the care of Oct 29, 2018 · Once Weekly Climbers Experienced Highest Injury Rates. May 24, 2024 · Eigentlich sind die Auto-Belay-Systeme sehr sicher. Things can go wrong. ” Similarly, avoid asking questions of someone who is belaying or climbing. This accident had a happy ending and contained a powerful lesson. Or they do multiple routes in a row, unclip for a short break and forget to clip back in. Empowered by AI-enhanced tools and strategies, a Marketing Assistant will manage your social media platforms and create on-brand content to expand your reach in the marketing world including podcasts, webinars, and digital resources. It is very easy to misjudge the length of your rope and/or the height of the anchor in vertical terrain. Most of the accidents have happened when climbers were well into their climbing session. Most auto-belay accidents happen because of human error–i. to be the person coming "unclipped" These accidents have been happening regularly for many years. ) as well as risk management and accident reporting, in general (signed waivers, photos, accident 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. 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. The "unclipped" is the biner not fully closing around the belay loop (pinched between gate and nose) and when weighted it slips off. " This month, we cover an increasingly common gym accident involving an auto belay; and the risk of rock fall at outdoor crags. 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. 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. Assisted braking belay devices, such as the Grigri, add an extra measure of security in those scenarios. Jul 11, 2023 · In January 2023, we reported an auto belay accident that sadly occurs with some frequency. Feb 8, 2024 · In the case of this accident, the belayer’s device unclipped from his harness just as the leader fell. May 15, 2024 · So I knew what had happened. “Our deepest condolences and sympathy go out to Jim’s wife Carol, their family, and friends,” said SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb. If your belayer is knocked out by rock fall while using a tube-style belay device, you are off belay. Jan 15, 2024 · 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. In 2014, a man died while climbing at a gym in The fact that some falls of lesser force had occurred before the accident led the climbers to feel that the belay system was adequate, however these falls were too few to actually validate the technique. For media inquiries, please contact: Josh Kerns for PCVA 206-920-1482 (voice or text) [email protected] Jan 20, 2022 · If someone tries to strike up a conversation, say, “I can’t talk while I’m belaying, talk to you after he finishes. 11 after he forgot to clip into an auto belay before hopping on the wall. Never had a problem catching a climber. Skinner’s partner reiterated in interviews with rangers that he observed the loop “had been about 20 percent worn through three days prior,” to the accident. Jun 17, 2021 · Fatal accidents at climbing gyms are rare, though there have been several high-profile auto belay-related accidents and injuries at climbing gyms. Climbing gym operators using auto belays are encouraged to always follow best practices when it comes to auto belay risk mitigation, specifically (device maintenance, communication, staff training, orientations and assessments, barriers/belay gates, signage, routesetting, etc. Yeah, my current (mostly bouldering) gym did 3 things after an autobelay scare: Put all the autobelays in one section and all the topropes in the other (it's a very small roped section to begin with) See my comment below, TL;DR- the recalls were because the original devices were built for safety backups to be used in construction and industrial venues, where they might catch a fall every year or two, and were built for a max of a few hundred falls a year, but were repurposed for gym use, where there thousands of falls per month. Peters location when an accident on an auto-belay system occurred. Usually the person forgets the clip in. The document has moved here. The Sep 21, 2023 · Gym and Auto Belay Manufacturer to Pay $6M in Settlement for Auto Belay Accident September 21, 2023. Textbook Bad GriGri belay puts comp climber in hospital — Paul L We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. In any case, it sounds like this was an accident the belay gate couldn't prevent. 13b (8a), and led to the birth of "free Mar 20, 2017 · Continuous Belay 72 Self-Belayed Climbing 72 Common Parts of Belay Systems 72 Friction Devices 72 Rope 74 Webbing 76 Accessory Cord 76 Knots 77 Parts of a Rope 78 Knots for Anchoring, Climbing, Rappelling, and Belaying 78 Belaying and Belay Signals 82 Belaying in the BSA 82 Belaying From Above 83 Belaying From Below 84 Sitting vs. My gym has several large bouldering areas. 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. Photo: masT3rOD/Flickr; CC BY 2. Sep 25, 2023 · The incident was “caused by a combination of factors, including alleged defects with the auto-belay device, improper supervision by Vertical World staff, and inadequate training for climbers by Vertical World,” Vandivere’s legal team at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala Attorneys at Law said in an August press release. O’Neill saved the belayer’s life and the leader was seriously injured. Oct 21, 2021 · The man’s death came just days after the gym reopened following the end of Sydney’s lockdown. 13b, when he decided to take a breather by running up a 5. e. Dabei ist der Kletterer durch ein automatisches System gesichert – das Sicherungsseil verkürzt sich von alleine. Here's the scenario behind one of the accidents, and it appears to be a fairly typical accident scenario: a very experienced climber was running laps on a route. even if the cause of the accident was failure to use the auto-belay altogether. Faherty makes several observations, however, that could lead climbers to a conclusion. As it turned out, he was climbing without belay. He was 67 years old. “[The accident] involved an autobelay failure,” the gym wrote on Facebook and Instagram prior to reopening on October Apr 29, 2021 · Seattle’s Vertical World climbing gym is, according to the Climbing Wall Association, 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 the auto belay’s carabiner into his harness. He answered yes to all of my questions. They eliminate the need for a climbing partner who belays the climber, belaying is manually controlling the rope to hold the climber…. Owen Clarke Apr 24, 2025 · September 21, 2023 – Perfect Descent Auto Belay and a climbing gym have reached a $6 million settlement following an accident that led to severe injuries, raising concerns about safety and liability in the industry. er-james-belay. 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. According to its website, the St Peters facility is the biggest climbing gym in the southern End of rope slipping out of belay device. He was short-roping me at some of the clips, and each time I looked down he was standing farther from the wall. Auch, weil Sicherheitssysteme einfach nicht genutzt werden. That's why in most German gyms you're (theoretically) not allowed to use Auto-Belays on your own. Aug 31, 2023 · More information about the C3 Perfect Descent Auto Belay Recall is available here. . Mar 5, 2025 · A 2024 accident left a climber with serious injuries, which she talks about in a new video by Hard is Easy Gripped March 5, 2025 Share on X (Twitter) Share on Facebook Share on Email Share on SMS That would seem to answer your own question, above. 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. Oct 25, 2021 · The gym closed following the accident last week, just two days after it had reopened following the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Feb 23, 2024 · BYTOM, Poland – 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 earlier this month. The only belay accidents I have personally seen were on grigris. However, if the staff said there was an accident, it suggests they weren't closing the stations regularly enough. English हिन्दी मराठी ਪੰਜਾਬੀ বাংলা ગુજરાતી நாடு దేశం Jun 16, 2021 · The accidents all seem. Whether deliberate or instinctive, he stayed put, maintaining that belay at the expense of his own An auto belay (or autobelay) is a There have been a number of serious, and some fatal, accidents regarding the use of auto belay devices in indoor climbing walls They should be closing their auto-belays regularly for inspection and maintenance. Todd Richard Skinner (October 27, 1958 – October 23, 2006) [1] was an American rock climber and expert in big wall climbing. The outdoors are unpredictable. Glad to hear you quickly grabbed the rope with your brake hand in time to prevent any accident--fast thinking! If the belayer grabs hard with the BRAKE hand, any fall WILL be stopped, with any and every belay device. In the auto belay scenario you lack an extra set of eyes. CPSC Reports and Statistics Here's the story I've told a few times; I know two very experienced climbers who have had accidents from not clipping in; one died and one was severely hurt. Their statement read: We are sad to say that on Saturday there was a tragic event at the gym. 4 days ago · The report comes to no conclusion as to why the belay loop broke. m. Your two eyes are your only double-checking mechanism. Told me he knew how to belay. It sounds like he did clip in, but the auto belay didn't take up the slack as he climbed. ” 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. Maybe the gate of the carabiner was caught on something and failed to completely close. A bad belayer can drop you on any device. Most of these auto-belay accidents have been people who don't tie in or don't tie in correctly. Sep 27, 2023 · Additional Resources. 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. He made the first free ascents of many routes around the world, including his historic first free ascent with Paul Piana in 1988 of the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite; it was one of the first-ever big wall climbs at 5. forgetting to clip-in. We may assume that climbing "accidents" should occur more often in beginners, but researchers found that about 17% of the accidents occurred with beginners (experience of <20 climbing days) while 53% climbing accidents were with climbers with "intermediate experience", climbing about once a week. I don't know the statistics, but I'd wager that lowering/rappelling accidents are more common, or more frequently serious/fatal. I had no misconceptions. 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 Jul 8, 2024 · Belay, a 40-year SCCA member from Mableton, GA, succumbed to injuries following a single-car incident in his Formula Continental Van Diemen. Diffut, who has flashed up to V10 and led 5. I know 3 people that died last year in accidents that could have been prevented by tying knots. In September of 2023, a three-year lawsuit over an auto-belay accident ended in a $6M settlement. Seeing auto-belay sections closed is a sign of good safety practice. You have every right to get belayed with whatever device makes you comfortable, but unfortunately accidents happen with any device. This video breaks down the accident and includes comments from the victim. Feb 20, 2021 · The auto belay accident A perfect storm of conditions. Oct 26, 2021 · John Dill, the longtime Yosemite climbing ranger and rescuer, wrote of Terbush’s final moments in Accidents in North American Mountaineering: “We’ll never know his thoughts or intentions, but he did know that his partner was still on belay. I had mis-assessed. Discuss accidents, injuries, treatments, and other health-related issues here. Because if this was a maintenance failure they're liable. Dec 28, 2022 · If someone tries to strike up a conversation, say, “I can’t talk while I’m belaying, talk to you after he finishes. Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3 have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1, 2019. It's always horribly tragic when reporting on one of our own ApexSpeed members. May 15, 2022 · Even if you follow all the previous points, something could happen to your belayer. I'd be interested to see some numbers on auto belays versus bouldering accidents. Jan 22, 2025 · Meg O’Neill died Sunday after a freak accident on 'Raven Falls' (WI4) when a large ice column broke. The climber, presumably attempting to capture a successful climb on camera, filmed the entire thing, with the video circulating around the internet following the incident. Good job OP and thank you for sharing. The use of auto belays has been a hotly debated topic in the indoor climbing industry for the last 10 years. His harness was too new. Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s 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. Oct 14, 2021 · Investigators did not find any faulty equipment. All it takes is one mistake to create an accident you will always regret. xpndc vwccx emrx nnpy omlzg moppc zwvu aqsjr lbkdey acibi bdnc dovt getk cwpug tdkfs