FALL ON ROCK, BEGINNER UNCLIPPED CLIMBING ROPE

Oregon, Rooster Rock

In late June 1982, a man (37) fell 30 meters to his death from Rooster Rock. He had unclipped from the climbing rope and when he fell, he was unprotected. He was part of a climbing class. (Source: The Oregonian, June 24, 1982)

Analysis

John Shadwick (16) was a member of a climbing class consisting of eight people. Although the leader of the group declined to be interviewed, Shadwick reported that, “We were all learning how to climb and the man (victim) didn’t know what was going on. We all started yelling directions at him and I guess he got mixed up and unhooked himself from his carabiner.”

A very common phenomenon among beginning classes in climbing and other sports, where one person is performing while others are watching, is that everyone suddenly becomes an expert. Beginners will tell other beginners, where to put feet and hands, how to move, and what to do next. In this case, there was one leader who was belaying from above. It is not known if he could see his clients. A general comment on these situations is that beginners need direct supervision, meaning visual and audio contact. (Source: J. Williamson and The Oregonian, June 24, 1982)