Auto belay accident. If trusting an automated machine to catch you when you fal...
Auto belay accident. If trusting an automated machine to catch you when you fall is unsettling, first, only climb up a few feet. Apr 13, 2025 · In early February 2024, a 22-year-old Polish climber experienced a harrowing accident at an indoor climbing gym in Bytom, Poland. The belay carabiner is still attached to the anchor at the beginning of the clip. Yeah, auto-belays aren't being removed because they're bad engineering. In January 2014, Mark Hesse, 63, a climber with decades of experience, fell to his death after failing to clip into the auto-belay device in the Boulder Rock Club, Boulder, Colorado. From the news item on their website, it seems the climber forgot to clip in. At TRUBLUE, we're all about auto belay safety. Auto belays are great, but they seem to breed a separate cohort of gym-only soloists who treat climbing like a treadmill. Moved Permanently The document has moved here. Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s The data shows that these accidents occur among both new and experienced climbers. I know I'm working on similar autobelay feelings! Jan 15, 2024 · Photo: CityROCK There has been a lot of chatter about auto-belays in recent months, both in the media and behind closed doors. Statistically almost all auto belay accidents are from people forgetting to clip in. Personal responsibility is such a fundamental part of climbing, seeing someone sue a gym for their own neglect is just so disappointing. Nov 29, 2019 · A new video released by The Climbing Academy (TCA) Glasgow highlights a worrying trend in indoor climbing accidents: people are forgetting to clip into the auto belay tape and are effectively soloing Sep 21, 2023 · The law office representing Vandivere, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala Attorneys at Law, stated in a press release that Vandivere fell “due to a defective auto-belay device. While Sam was very lucky to walk away from the accident with her life, the impacts of this experience are real. Oct 21, 2024 · The auto belay device backup brake can fail to activate, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury or death. In 2021, a young climber died after falling 43 feet from an auto belay–equipped route in Sydney, Australia. Aug 30, 2018 · Pulleys and cables on the climbing wall Selena McLeod was at the scene with her family and witnessed the accident. Most of the accidents have happened when climbers were well into their climbing session. It reminds us that forgetting to clip into auto-belays strikes climbing guides, medical professionals, and novices alike (see ANAC 2023). I always stay focused and go through the same set up each time to make sure I attach correctly to the auto belay. Auto belays & accidents; I could have sworn I read a convo about this on this sub. It is important to understand that however experienced you are, people can still make mistakes. Jun 2, 2023 · An auto belay barrier designed by Neon, in CityRock Climbing Gym. Despite the many steps gym owners, instructors and climbers take to maintain their safety, accidents happen in some of the places we least expect. Jan 24, 2023 · Most auto-belay accidents come from people not securing themselves properly or making other simple, avoidable mistakes. I would practice falling as others have recommended here, to avoid the day you fall on accident and create a lot of fear on the autobelay. Last month, the Climbing Wall Association (CWA) released updated Auto Belay Guidance in hope of reducing auto belay incidents and improve the culture of responsibility in the sport of climbing. I work at a gym and I believe our auto belays are rated for up to 300lbs. The intention of these guidelines is to improve auto belay safety by elevating the respect given to auto belays by climbers, and walls. I trust the system. Credit: NCF The alarming increase in accident numbers led the Safety Committee of the Norwegian Climbing Federation (NCF) to discuss what could be done to prevent climbers from forgetting to clip in. The fact is the only fatal accidents in climbing gyms in the US are from autobelays, and they are also the source of most major injuries. “When I looked up, the carabiner, which was supposed to be attached to his harness, was still attached to the top of the auto-belaying device and it was open,” McLeod said. While preparing to ascend a 50- foot speed climbing wall, he neglected to clip into the auto-belay system—a critical safety mechanism designed to arrest falls. Scary stuff Oct 21, 2024 · The auto belay device backup brake can fail to activate, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury or death. We have had a number of accidents in the UK where people have climbed on an auto belay route without clipping in. Since it appeared on the market, the practice of indoor climbing has opened climbing up to a new public, enormously extending user potential. For its part, Safety Gate® uses Artificial Intelligence to prevent auto belay accidents and provides key data for proper maintenance. Jun 20, 2024 · The recalled auto belay device can fail to retract, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury or death. Auto Belay Accident—Climber Fell 45 ft due to tiny distractions leading to one big mistake in the gym Jun 20, 2024 · Consumers should immediately stop using recalled auto belay devices, and contact Head Rush Technologies for a free inspection and repair. " This month, we cover an increasingly common gym accident involving an auto belay; and the risk of rock fall at outdoor crags. In the auto belay scenario you lack an extra set of eyes. Dec 10, 2019 · Helen Cassidy of The Climbing Academy, a UK-based chain of climbing gyms, reached out to us to share the story of Sam, an experienced climber who recently took a fall from an unclipped auto belay. Jun 21, 2021 · Climbing Gym Battles $1 Million Lawsuit Over Auto Belay Accident Seattle’s Vertical World climbing gym is fighting a $1,000,000 lawsuit brought by an injured gym member, who allegedly fell off an auto-belay route after failing to fully clip in. The climbing gym said the auto belay systems will not be used at least until a full investigation is completed. This effect is magnified when the belayer Sep 23, 2023 · A 3-year lawsuit over an auto-belay accident has ended in a $6 million mixed payout from the climbing gymnasium and the auto-belay producer. ” Others, meanwhile, took to lambasting both Frohbieter and climbing gym, or both, for the injury. 1, 2019. That's why in most German gyms you're (theoretically) not allowed to use Auto-Belays on Sep 6, 2023 · Hector Diffut, 26, fell 30 feet from the top of an indoor wall after forgetting to clip into the auto belay. Jon Heshka of Thompson Rivers University titled “ Understanding Climber Behaviour in Climbing Gyms ” sheds light on climbers’ behavior and attitudes September 21, 2023 Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3 have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1, 2019. I know you're being flippant, but it's important to highlight that the accident happened while lowering. Jan 25, 2023 · Your monthly dose of climbing accident analysis from the editors of "Accidents in North American Climbing. Forgetting to clip auto belay - an interview with a survivor 🔴 LIVE Red Screen 24/7 | Pure Solid Red Background • Ambient Color Stream The Physics of GriGri | When does No-Hands Belay Fail? One of the more widely sold auto belays in North America was recalled due to a design flaw that caused some of the internal parts to wear more quickly than anticipated. Climbers often start climbing to one side of the barrier to Many climbers have sustained serious or permanent injuries this way. A powerful App where they track their progress, compete in challenges, and become part of an active and motivated community. Top roping with auto belay devices is the format used in competition speed climbing and in the speed elements of competition ice climbing. I understand that it is against our policy to wear earbuds while using the autobelay. e Jun 17, 2021 · Fatal accidents at climbing gyms are rare, though there have been several high-profile auto belay-related accidents and injuries at climbing gyms. even if the cause of the accident was failure to use the auto-belay altogether. Ensure that the gym you climb at gets their devices sent out for recertification at least annually and that the devices are CSA, ANSI and/or EN/CE certified. Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s Vertical World gymnasium agreed to settle the lawsuit from climber Michael Vandivere, who took a 30-foot fall whereas utilizing an auto-belay machine on Aug. Oct 22, 2019 · C3 Manufacturing has issued a stop use and recall notification for Perfect Descent Auto Belay model 220 Indoor, Outdoor, Speed Drive, and Direct Drive units manufactured between February 2017 and April 2019. Auto Belay Accident—Climber Fell 45 ft due to tiny distractions leading to one big mistake in the gym Apr 29, 2021 · Seattle’s Vertical World climbing gym is fighting a $1,000,000 lawsuit brought by an injured gym member, who allegedly fell off an auto-belay route after failing to fully clip in. So how do they work? Sensors, software, and motors, which read rope movement and feed out/take up slack accordingly. Aug 18, 2025 · All square belay gates on a separate, dedicated section of the walls and nowhere to start climbing without connecting the autobelay carabiner. Peters location when an accident on an auto-belay system occurred. Feb 27, 2025 · Consumers should immediately stop using recalled auto belay devices and contact Head Rush Technologies for a free onsite inspection and repair. (A GoFundMe has been set-up in support of the family, raising over $20,000. Or they do multiple routes in a row, unclip for a short break and forget to clip back in. Auto belays have proven themselves *much* more reliable than human belayers, at least once the climber has clipped in properly. Aug 4, 2016 · > The auto belay is simply a fallible mechanical device that avoids the proper supervision of a competent belayer. This is why you perform the super quick safety check before climbing any wall, making sure you are tied in to the rope with a proper figure 8 through both harness loops, or properly clipped into the autobelay. The belayer is slightly lifted during a fall. ) Despite the reduced risk to Kai’s climb, it’s still not allowed to climb or fall above an auto belay in everyday use. These things happen all the time. Some of those people have been very experienced climbers and some new to auto belay. September 21, 2023 Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3 have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1, 2019. Sep 22, 2023 · Seattle’s Vertical World and Colorado-based manufacturer C3, which produces Perfect Descent auto belays, have settled in a lawsuit following a severe climbing accident that occurred on August 1 There’s a lot of auto belays at the two gyms I climb regularly. They're being removed because it turns out a partner check is just ridiculously important to avoid accidents on ropes over the long run. Just tell a staff member. ” Furthermore, the press release stated that the accident was caused by “improper supervision by Vertical World staff, and inadequate training for climbers by Vertical World. “Maybe it was defective; maybe it wasn’t put on properly. An auto belay (or autobelay) is a mechanical device for belaying in indoor climbing walls, in both training and competition climbing formats. The climber, Michael Vandivere, sustained a 30-foot fall and subsequently suffered a number of severe injuries, including 12 pelvic fractures, a traumatic brain injury, lung injuries, bladder laceration, and other Feb 23, 2024 · A 22-year-old climber fell 50 feet after forgetting to clip into the belay device at the bottom of the climb in a Polish gym. Still, the easy-to-use auto belay quickly becomes the friend of many rope climbers as it provides a safe and accessible way Oct 22, 2019 · C3 Manufacturing has issued a stop use and recall notification for Perfect Descent Auto Belay model 220 Indoor, Outdoor, Speed Drive, and Direct Drive units manufactured between February 2017 and April 2019. Aug 31, 2023 · The lawsuit uncovered that C3 was aware of defects in the equipment. As part of the settlement, C3 Manufacturing has agreed to pay $5 million, and Vertical World will pay $1 million. Vandivere suffered a number of accidents . The krabs have been replaced with belay-master gate ones (i. The theory of this law firm was that an auto belay device produced by C3 Manufacturing, called “Perfect Descent”, failed to arrest the climber’s fall as intended resulting in serious injuries. Sep 27, 2023 · Vertical World and C3 Manufacturing recently agreed to pay a climber $6 million, one of the largest settlements in the climbing gym industry’s history, following an auto belay accident. Auto-locking belay devices slip less, but they still let the rope slip, reducing the overall force generated by a fall. Our number one priority is to ensure that every experience on a TRUBLUE Auto Belay is a protected one. Although the frequency of auto-belay-related incidents is relatively low (compared to the frequency of auto-belay usage without incidents) — the severity of these incidents has caused many gym managers and owners to become extremely concerned. Jun 16, 2021 · Indoor climbing gym fatal accidents extremely rare Fatal accidents at indoor climbing gyms are extremely rare, with only a handful in the United States in the last decade. End of rope slipping out of belay device. I also personally witnessed a very serious fall from failing to clip in to an autobelay with several compound fractures. May 15, 2024 · A stranger he met at the gym dropped him to the ground. The climber, Michael Vandivere, sustained a 30-foot fall and subsequently suffered a number of severe injuries, including 12 pelvic fractures, a traumatic brain injury, lung injuries, bladder laceration, and other May 24, 2022 · Even indoor climbing comes with inherent risks. ANALYSIS Though fatal accidents at indoor climbing gyms are extremely rare, there have been multiple cases involving auto-belays. As with any new endeavor, using an auto belay for the first time may be scary. The device enables a climber to ascend indoor routes on a top rope but without the need for a human belaying partner. Oct 25, 2021 · In reply to Wire Shark: The 'SafeWork' mentioned in the article is a government department in NSW investigating the incident. I don't know the statistics, but I'd wager that lowering/rappelling accidents are more common, or more frequently serious/fatal. Sep 23, 2016 · One of the main elements in the auto belay set-up that is different from regular top rope climbing, is the absence of a partner. Authorities have not yet released the woman’s name. Unaware of this oversight, he proceeded to climb and, upon reaching the top, pushed off the wall So how do they work? Sensors, software, and motors, which read rope movement and feed out/take up slack accordingly. Aug 19, 2021 · As per usual, a brouhaha began on Mountain Project after Frohbieter’s posted about his accident, with some offering support and well wishes, but many calling the accident a hoax and requesting “proof. Sources These are the prime sources for the part about it being a problem with the webbing (it was also covered in national media, though pretty briefly): 1. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to ensure that I am clipped in properly prior to attempting any climbs. And many have died. So, if I were you, I’d stop using auto belays at all and stick exclusively to bouldering because one day you will accidentally die, traumatizing everyone else in the gym for the rest of their On December 14, Adam Herzog (43) suffered severe head trauma, 15 fractures, spinal injury, and other trauma after failing to clip into an auto-belay in a climbing gym. Oct 25, 2021 · A young man has passed away following a 43-foot fall off an autobelay-equipped route at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in Sydney, Australia. Most auto-belay accidents happen because the climber forgot to clip into the belay. On December 14, Adam Herzog (43) suffered severe head trauma, 15 fractures, spinal injury, and other trauma after failing to clip into an auto-belay in a climbing gym. Your two eyes are your only double-checking mechanism. Jun 2, 2022 · The Analysis Other factors come into play to soften the impact on the system include: Rope slippage through the belay device. Though auto belay accidents happen every year, deaths are uncommon. In recent years there has been increasing evidence of incidents and climber injuries and even fatalities where autobelays were being used incorrectly. The auto belay is the ideal climbing companion. Jun 27, 2025 · The follow up article to our article on understanding auto belay accidents in indoor climbing gyms, featuring downloadable content from the CWA. Unfortunately these accidents are still occurring in the UK even though best current practice is in place. This happens regardless of how hard the belayer locks off. The auto belay is fixed to the top of the route and the climber clips into a wire that pays out from the device, which enables the device to belay the climber as if they were on a top rope. There was a similar incident there earlier, again with someone forgetting to clip in, following which there are 3 signs on the way up each route saying to check you've clipped in. Second, if you accidentally let go of the carabiner, don’t worry about it. I understand that most auto belay accidents are caused by user error; specifically, failing to clip in properly. Jun 25, 2021 · Ascent released a statement days after the accident, calling the fall a “tragic event” and expressing sympathy for the climber’s friends and family. As of October 1, 2024, the company has received no reports of incidents or injury in Canada. Sep 22, 2023 · A three-year lawsuit over an auto-belay accident has ended in a $6 million combined payout from the climbing gym and the auto-belay manufacturer. One of the more widely sold auto belays in North America was recalled due to a design flaw that caused some of the internal parts to wear more quickly than anticipated. Jon Lachelt, co-founder and general manager of Ascent Studio Feb 8, 2024 · An informal post on a climbing forum titled "Auto-belay Accident" is the most perfect, concise way to tell a reader, they are going to read about a climbing accident that occurred on an auto-belay. Feb 12, 2026 · Gym and Auto Belay Manufacturer to Pay $6M in Settlement for Auto Belay Accident Vertical World and Perfect Descent manufacture settle with climber who sustained 30-foot fall A larger auto-belay gate will be put in place and auto-belay inductions with competent climbers will remain in place. Seems a bit unfair. Vertical World fully cooperated over many years of investigation. And just this month, a tragic auto belay accident in Colorado resulted in the death of a single mother of two children. In reply to eijit: Last year, after a series of accidents/mistakes of this kind on their auto-belay protected wall, the Virgin gym in Sheffield asked us (Podsacs) if we could design some sort of physical deterrent to people setting off on routes without first clipping onto the auto-belay cords. In the accident's aftermath, the author had to relearn how to climb—and to trust. Fixed barriers at the bottom of climbs are often in place to stop people climbing the route until the climber is connected to the autobelay – surely this stop people? Not totally. Jun 17, 2021 · Fatal accidents at climbing gyms are rare, though there have been several high-profile auto belay-related accidents and injuries at climbing gyms. What is an auto belay? The Perfect Descent auto belay has caused a revolution in the climbing gym sector. The use of belay gates on auto-belays has not been fully embraced by climbing gyms, but there are several safety advantages to adding in this additional step for the climber. The locking system is mechanical, similar to most assisted-braking belay devices, reliant on friction. [12] The intention of these guidelines is to improve auto belay safety by elevating the respect given to auto belays by climbers, and walls. If you're worried about it maybe ask what the auto belays are rated for. That being said, your fear of auto-belays might be a larger issue if it develops into an overall fear of falling. Jun 14, 2010 · It seems there's been another accident at Craggy G involving the auto-belays. Instead we choose to focus on rope climbing with real life belay partners. The climbing centre's instagram page reported 3 days ago that it was auto belay failure, and they've removed all auto belays and will never use them again in that centre. My understanding is that a bug might short-rope you, but that the braking mechanism is similar to existing autobelays. Sep 6, 2023 · Hector Diffut, 26, fell 30 feet from the top of an indoor wall after forgetting to clip into the auto belay. We believe removing auto belays will reduce the probability of an accident—sparing not only the injured climber, but also the other climbers in the gym, our team members, and the community. Edgeworks removed them a few years back I think (there was an infamous fall at their Tacoma location but fairly sure that climber didn’t clip in) but it’s unfortunate the accidents are casting a long shadow over auto belays. Half of the time I climb solo so I use them a lot. No mention of the brand of device though. Oct 22, 2021 · A man, reported to be in his 30s, was climbing at Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym’s St. News article: Mountain Network - Ongeval Feb 20, 2021 · TCA talks to the survivor of an auto belay no-clip accident. ” The rock wall has since It’s interesting a lot of Seattle gyms seem to have issues with auto belays. Just Google auto belay death to see the news stories about it. Jon Heshka of Thompson Rivers University titled “ Understanding Climber Behaviour in Climbing Gyms ” sheds light on climbers’ behavior and attitudes but like how does that even happen You can look up reports about Auto belay accidents, it happens kind of regularly. C3’s auto-belay devices, known as the “Perfect Descent,” were sold despite a history of defects with the auto-belay retraction springs. In 2014, conservationist Mark Hesse died in a similar accident in Colorado. Don’t try to climb up and get it. Most auto-belay accidents are the result of individuals failing to completely clip into the device, or forgetting to clip in entirely. 2 AUTO BELAY INDUCTION E. Nov 22, 2021 · Can auto belay fail? Most auto-belay accidents are the result of individuals failing to completely clip into the device, or forgetting to clip in entirely. Mar 3, 2025 · What happened? A few weeks ago, a climber in the Netherlands was pretty badly injured when the webbing (!) of an auto belay apparently snapped, causing them to fall from approximately 8 meters. Listen to Sam's story and her wise words of advice to help climbers avoid this mistake. Oct 21, 2021 · The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym has confirmed that the failure of a special climbing device, called an autobelay, caused a man to fall to his death. I don’t know. Jul 11, 2023 · This accident had a happy ending and contained a powerful lesson. Sep 25, 2023 · More than four years after a climber fell 30 feet while using an auto-belay device at a Seattle climbing gym, the manufacturer and gym have agreed to settle a lawsuit for $6 million. g. I believe that in the US at least, auto belay related accidents are the most common due to people forgetting to clip in. This type of accident seems to occur at least once a year. Auto-Belays The nerve racking first fall makes the potential danger obvious. In late 2022, a commissioned study conducted by Prof. Creating safety around auto belay use in indoor climbing gyms starts with understanding why accidents happen at all. Jun 21, 2021 · A woman has died following an auto-belay accident at Ascent Studio Climbing & Fitness, in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Saturday, June 12. Fort Collins Police Services spokesperson Brandon Barnes told The Coloradoan that the climber fell from about 40 feet up in the auto-belay area. Third, the first few times you use the auto-belay it will be very scary. Lizcore Climber® App (Community): The connection point for your climbers. Nov 21, 2022 · To a degree, climbing gyms are already reducing their operational risks through waivers, orientations and belay tests with new climbers, staff training, signage, etc. No buddy check and people just forget to clip in. Do You Have Auto Belays? We understand the appeal and convenience of auto belays but climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and due to a number of ongoing safety concerns related to auto belays, we do not have them in our gyms. usiyji seu bolez agolvi fdq toqcziv srcgph lzq pzgwh hkmjp
