A Yemeni free climber who gained social media fame for scaling sheer rock faces without ropes or safety equipment died after falling into a volcanic crater on Friday, according to reports by Al Jazeera.
The Incident
Al-Qa'qa' bin Antar, 30, also known as Qaqaa Antar al-Absi and dubbed the 'Spider-Man of Yemen' online, reportedly fell on Friday while attempting to climb the 120-metre (394-foot) Haradhat Damt volcano crater in Yemen's southern province of Al Dhale, according to Al Jazeera.
He had become widely known for videos showing him climbing steep cliffs and volcanic formations without protective gear, sometimes marking high points on rock faces with white chalk writing.
Recovery Operation
Civil defence teams recovered his body on Saturday after a nearly 24-hour search and recovery operation, Yemen Monitor reported. According to Yemen Online, rescue teams deployed diving units, water rescue equipment and lighting systems to reach the difficult terrain inside the crater, where steep rock faces and hazardous conditions significantly hampered efforts.
Footage circulating online appears to show the moment he lost his grip and fell into the crater.
Tributes and Motivation
Tributes have poured in from fans of bin Antar, who became famous for his videos attempting daring climbs. Yemen Online also previously reported that bin Antar had cited poverty as a motivation for undertaking the dangerous climbs in an attempt to earn income.
