Read on bbc.comYemen's 'Spider-Man' Dies in Climbing Accident at Volcanic Crater
Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, known as the 'Spider-Man of Yemen' for his daredevil free-climbing stunts, died after falling into a volcanic crater in southern Yemen. The 30-year-old social media personality was attempting to climb the steep rock walls of the Hardah Dam volcanic crater without safety equipment when he lost his grip and fell. Rescue teams recovered his body from a depth of 30 meters below the water surface in a highly dangerous operation. This incident highlights the perils of extreme free climbing and the risks taken by social media influencers in pursuit of content, and serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of safety measures in outdoor adventure activities.
The tragic death of Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, a 30-year-old social media personality known as the "Spider-Man of Yemen," has captured international attention. Antar died on Friday after falling into the Hardah Dam volcanic crater in Dhale province, southern Yemen, while attempting to free-climb its near-vertical walls without any safety equipment. Local authorities confirmed the incident and praised the heroic efforts of the rescue team that retrieved his body in a highly dangerous operation over the weekend.
According to a report from the BBC, Antar had been attempting to climb the crater's steep rock faces on Friday without safety equipment when he fell in. Video footage showing the moment of the fall has been widely circulating online, showing Antar climbing the near-vertical wall before appearing to lose his grip and fall into the crater. Yemen's Civil Defence Authority described the recovery operation as "highly dangerous" and "one of the most difficult and complex field rescue missions." The body was found by divers inside the 120-meter-wide crater at a depth of 30 meters below the water surface, according to the Associated Press.
Antar had a large following on social media and was well known for performing daring acrobatic stunts in online videos. His nickname, the "Spider-Man of Yemen," reflected his fearless approach to free climbing. The Hardah Dam volcanic crater, featuring a hot sulfur lake at its base, has become a tourist attraction in recent years. This tragedy underscores the extreme risks that social media influencers sometimes take to create content, and it has prompted discussions about safety regulations and the role of authorities in preventing such incidents.
