A climber known online as Yemen’s “Spider-Man” has died after falling into a deep volcano crater while climbing rocks without safety gear, reporting for the Associated Press, Samy Magdy wrote.
Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, 30, lost his footing and dropped 120 meters into Hardah Dam crater in Dhale province, southern Yemen, on Friday, civil defense officials said. The agency also shared a short video that captured the moment he fell.
The 10-second clip shows Antar climbing a steep rock wall with his bare hands. White Arabic names are painted across the stone. He holds the rock with his right hand, raises his left, then slips and falls out of view.
Rescue teams, including divers and water specialists, were sent to bring out his body. Divers found him about 30 meters underwater at the bottom of the crater. Officials said the four-hour rescue was difficult because the walls were steep and rocky.
Hardah Dam, also called Haradhat Damt, is near Damt city in Dhale. It is a popular landmark with tall rock walls and a hot, sulfur-filled lake at the base.
Antar became popular online for posting videos of dangerous climbs on Yemen’s hardest cliffs, often without ropes or protection. In one well-known clip, he hung from a rock edge using only his hands while his legs swung over a sharp drop.
After his death, Yemen’s civil defense authority told climbers and adventure fans to use proper safety equipment. It warned that climbing without gear can cause fatal accidents like this one.