No Rope, No Harness... The Final, Tragic Challenge of Yemen's "Spiderman"

Gained Fame Through Equipment-Free Climbing Videos

Rescue Team Recovers Body from Crater Lake

Outpouring of Condolences Amid Some Public Criticism

A 30-year-old extreme climber, who was known as "Spiderman" and gained popularity in Yemen, died in an accident after falling while climbing a volcanic crater wall without any safety equipment.

On June 16, Yonhap News, citing reports from The Sun and other foreign media, reported that Yemeni climber Alkaka Ibn Antar died on June 12 (local time) after losing his grip and falling while climbing the rock face of the Hardat Damt volcanic crater, also known as the Hardat Dam, near Damt in the southern Yemeni province of Dhale. The crater is reportedly about 120 meters deep.

A 30-year-old extreme climber known as "Spider-Man" in Yemen, Alkaka Ibn Andar. SNS

A short video released by the Yemeni Civil Defense authorities showed Antar hanging on a steep rock face without safety ropes or a harness. He held onto the cliff with one hand while extending his other hand and foot into the air, assuming a dangerous position. It was reported that as he tried to change his position, his hand slipped and he lost his balance.

Immediately after the accident, authorities dispatched rescue teams and divers to the scene, but the search and recovery were difficult. The crater was surrounded by steep rock walls, and there was a lake with sulfur content at the bottom. After a persistent search, the rescue team found Antar's body in the lake inside the crater, and it reportedly took more than four hours to recover the body due to the rugged terrain.

Antar became famous by posting videos on social media of himself climbing rocks or hanging from cliffs without safety equipment in Yemen's rugged mountainous and volcanic terrain. In particular, his bare-handed ascents and descents of rough cliffs earned him the nickname "Spiderman of Yemen" among fans. Some of his videos attracted significant attention and spread widely online.

After news of his death broke, messages of condolence poured in on social media. Local supporters expressed their sorrow, saying that Antar continued his climbing and rescue activities despite difficult living conditions. According to Al Jazeera Arabic, he was also known for rescuing livestock stranded on cliffs or in craters, and such activities sometimes served as a source of income for him.

A short video released by the Yemeni Popular Committees shows Antar hanging from a steep cliff without safety ropes or a harness. He adopts a dangerous posture, gripping the cliff with one hand while stretching his other hand and feet into the air. SNS

On the other hand, some pointed out that this accident was a foreseeable tragedy. So-called "equipment-free climbing," which involves scaling high cliffs or building exteriors without safety gear, can result in fatal consequences from a single mistake. Critics also argued that the pursuit of dangerous stunts for social media views and attention encourages even more extreme challenges.

Similar accidents have occurred in the past. In 2017, Chinese "rooftopper" Wu Yongning died after falling while performing a stunt without safety equipment on a 62-story building in Changsha. French stunt influencer Remi Lucidi also reportedly died in 2023 after falling during an extreme sports activity on a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong.

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation has also established key equipment standards to ensure climbing safety and continues to update these standards by reflecting accident cases. The organization emphasized that with increasingly difficult climbs, it is hard to prevent accidents based solely on individual skill. Furthermore, it urged that when engaging in extreme sports, basic protective gear such as ropes, harnesses, and helmets must be used, and participants should assess the site environment along with companions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.