In brief
Al‑Qaqa Ibn Antar, a 30‑year‑old Yemeni free‑climber who had built a sizable online following, fell into the 120‑metre wide Hardah Dam crater while attempting a steep climb without safety gear. Video footage of his fall spread rapidly on social media. Yemen’s Civil Defence Authority organised a perilous rescue that involved divers, a climbing cage and winches. The body was recovered 30 metres below the water surface, and the team was praised for its ‘heroic’ efforts. The event highlights the growing appeal of the Hardah Dam as a tourist destination and the risks posed by extreme sports in a rugged environment.
The fatal fall of Yemen’s daring climber
The 30‑year‑old free‑climber Al‑Qaqa Ibn Antar, nicknamed the ‘Spider‑Man of Yemen’, lost his life when he fell into the Hardah Dam volcanic crater in Yemen’s Dhale province on Friday. He was attempting a steep ascent of the crater’s near‑vertical walls without using safety equipment, according to local authorities.
Video footage that shows the moment of his fall quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking global shock. The footage shows Ibn Antar climbing the crater wall before seemingly losing his grip and sliding toward the center where a lake of hot sulfur water lies.
Yemen’s Civil Defence Authority subsequently launched a rescue mission over the weekend. The operation involved rescuers using climbing gear to descend the crater’s rim, then winching a cage down to recover the climber’s body. Divers guided the cage from 30 metres (98 ft) below seawater within the 120‑metre‑wide crater.
The team was lauded for its “heroic efforts” and was described as having displayed “exceptional field capabilities amid rugged terrain, harsh environmental conditions and high temperatures inside the volcanic crater.” The rescue was deemed “highly dangerous” and “one of the most difficult and complex field rescue missions.”
The Hardah Dam has become an increasingly popular tourist landmark, known for its spacious crater and sulfuric lake at the bottom. While the site attracts adventure seekers, the incident underscores the dangers of climbing in such extreme conditions.
