Auto belay accident what happened. ” He cites ‘gross negligence’ on the gym’s part. In 2021, a young climber died after falling 43 feet from an auto belay–equipped route in Sydney, Australia. Local Accident Reports can help you with anything you need after you have been in an accident. The dash cam footage of the car crash was just posted on an Instagram page. It's happened so much I'm in the habbit of actually checking that the biner isn't catching before I let go. Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s Vertical World gym agreed to settle the lawsuit from climber Michael Vandivere, who took a 30-foot fall while using an auto-belay device on Aug. You must clip to the stranded climber (option 2), although ideally clip, retrieve the auto belay if possible, then descend together. 4 days ago · A tragic car crash in Brackenfell has claimed the lives of four young adults and left two others seriously injured. Or they do multiple routes in a row, unclip for a short break and forget to clip back in. Auto-Belay Accident at Gym Post by justin » Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:08 am A woman has died following an auto-belay accident at Ascent Studio Climbing & Fitness, in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Saturday, June 12. No buddy check and people just forget to clip in. This lawsuit really amped up the conversation. 30 by Shane MacDonald on simcoe. Using an auto-belay means you can workout in your “zone,” with your headphones, thinking about the next hours chores you must work on. 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. The highest certified guy who is my instructor told me they have more accidents in the bouldering areas then they do with auto-belay and other "standard" climbing accidents combined. The vehicle veered off Jun 14, 2010 · It seems there's been another accident at Craggy G involving the auto-belays. com here. 2 days ago · The crash killed the driver and sole occupant of the Honda Accord — 18-year-old Samantha Pierce. Accident Data Center serves as a one-stop resource to locate up-to-date information on major traffic accidents across the country. Auto belays have proven themselves *much* more reliable than human belayers, at least once the climber has clipped in properly. I was at the gym the day after the accident, and it was business as usual with all the auto belays in use, except the route where accident happened which I noticed was missing the auto belay. 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 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. We first responded by removing our Perfect Descent auto belays (Perfect Descent was a defendant in 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. Listen to Sam's story and her wise words of advice to help climbers avoid this mistake. The horrific crash happened in Grand County on 1 day ago · What happened to Jaycee Horn? How did he crash his car? And now the video of the accident has emerged. Seeing auto-belay sections closed is a sign of good safety practice. 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. Climbing (POSSIBLE PAYWALL) 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. 3 days ago · GRAND COUNTY, Colo. Sep 21, 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 The law office representing Vandivereclaims that Vandivere fell due to a defective auto-belay device, improper supervision by Vertical World staff, and inadequate training for climbers by Vertical World. “Everybody said it was fine,” said Neil McDermott, Benjamin’s father. Feb 7, 2024 · Auto Belay Safety and Failures Can an auto belay fail? Though auto belay accidents happen every year, deaths are uncommon. As with most auto-belay accidents, user failure is the major cause. I don't think waivers mean much in the US since you can just sue anyway in an attempt to get a settlement. “He then leaned back and was reaching for a rope that wasn’t there. 19 hours ago · The Michigan State Police said the trooper was working the scene of a previous crash when they were struck by a passing motorist. 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. 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. The use of auto belays has been a hotly debated topic in the indoor climbing industry for the last 10 years. If I climb faster than the autobelay can retract, then the carabiner drops to the bottom of the belay loop, twists, then catches the loop. Bouldering injuries were primarily due to falls on the mat. Absolutely. This has happened to me many times. ” After falling from the top of the tower, he was unconscious and had a number of broken bones. The belay carabiner is still attached to the anchor at the beginning of the clip. Combined with the valuable information contained in the resource library, the site is a tool for anyone involved in an accident and seeking information regarding the issues and problems 2 AUTO BELAY INDUCTION E. In the case of this accident, the belayer’s device unclipped from his harness just as the leader fell. The Climbing Academy said in a press release, "We are aware that falls do happen and we What happened? He was distracted by a conversation next to him, and was holding the rope too loose. A autobelay (trueblue I think) stop fonctionning at Allez-Up a few weeks ago but it was spot … See more 2 5y Search recent car accidents by state. (The precise circumstances of the June 12 accident at Ascent Studio Climbing & Fitness are still unknown. The group, all believed to be in their twenties, were travelling along Cecil Morgan Drive on Saturday evening when the driver reportedly lost control of the car. Bend Rock Gym needs to provide information about why this happened, including the specific mode of failure. Look for Edelrid Ohm. Unfortunately these accidents are still occurring in the UK even though best current practice is in place. Feb 8, 2024 · As far as inanimate objects go, quickdraws are not ideal belayers. 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. Sep 22, 2023 · Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s Vertical World gym agreed to settle the lawsuit from climber Michael Vandivere, who took a 30-foot fall while using an auto-belay device on Aug. While Sam was very lucky to walk away from the accident with her life, the impacts of this experience are real. Aug 30, 2018 · What ? Another accident with auto belay device ? A cable broke (hydrolic system behind the wall) at Canyon escalade a few months ago resulting in an injuries. The researchers were surprised at the incidence of injuries from top-rope climbing, as top-rope was assumed "safer" than lead climbing or The following report describes an accident in the Canadian Rockies that will be published in the upcoming 2024 Accidents in North American Climbing. Oct 21, 2024 · The auto belay device backup brake can fail to activate, posing a fall hazard and risk of serious injury or death. It is important to understand that however experienced you are, people can still make mistakes. Fort Collins Jul 30, 2025 · A car crashed into a Portillo’s in Oswego, killing a 2-year-old and injuring 13 other people; three are in critical condition. When someone you know has been in an accident, it is often difficult and time consuming to locate accurate information about the accident. One passenger, 16, died. AFAIK (correction: the statement in this sentence is wrong, see aplubsi's relpy) there has never been a single auto belay accident caused by failure of the auto belay device. Photo: masT3rOD /Flickr Jul 31, 2025 · What we know after car slams in suburban Portillo's, leaving 2-year-old killed and 13 others injured According to Oswego police, the car was driven by a 50-year-old woman. Annual or bi-annual inspections, as required by the manufacturer, involve disassembly, inspection, repair, testing and recertification of the unit. In September, after a four year long legal battle over an auto belay accident, Vertical World publicly announced a shocking $6m settlement. 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. e Jul 16, 2022 · As you will be aware, the use of auto belay devices has grown in the last few years and accelerated during the pandemic. This was the Anecdotally both in the UK and US it has been observed that a number of incidents around auto belays have happened with experienced climbers, for example at the end of a successful session on auto belay then getting distracted and failing to clip in. Saturday at the intersection of Alexander Run and Randolph Siding Road in the Jupiter Farms community. Your two eyes are your only double-checking mechanism. In a cycle, counting how many seconds you have left to “rest,” there are many opportunities for you to forget double, triple, quad-check your setup Anecdotally both in the UK and US it has been observed that a number of incidents around auto belays have happened with experienced climbers, for example at the end of a successful session on auto belay then getting distracted and failing to clip in. That's why in most German gyms you're (theoretically) not allowed to use Auto-Belays on > The auto belay is simply a fallible mechanical device that avoids the proper supervision of a competent belayer. ” I use auto-belays almost every time I’m in Oct 25, 2021 · In reply to Wire Shark: The 'SafeWork' mentioned in the article is a government department in NSW investigating the incident. Almost exactly a year ago, a climber fell, unroped, from the fourth-pitch belay anchor of a 15-pitch climb. The dash cam owner stayed and filed a witness report and Oct 12, 2020 · Wondering what auto belays are? In this post, we detail what are the main types of auto belays, how they work and how to use them properly. 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. Sep 21, 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, 2019. Find information on recent auto crashes and vehicle accidents nationwide. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. (KKTV) - A family of five, including three children, were killed Monday morning when a wrong-way driver slammed into their SUV. Oct 14, 2021 · The climbing gym in Fort Collins released a statement Tuesday, and said the auto-belay systems that keep climbers from falling will not be used at least until a full investigation is completed. 30 Tragic Moments! Insane Car Crashes Compilation | Best Of USA & Canada Accidents - Part 1 The driver of the Civic was relatively okay. If you climb or work at a gym with auto-belays, what did they do to get everyone to clip, and what was your opinion of their methods? Aug 4, 2016 · The auto belay is simply a fallible mechanical device that avoids the proper supervision of a competent belayer. m. Some of those people have been very experienced climbers and some new to auto belay. I’ve seen outside almost-accidents like this esp if belayer isn't wearing belay gloves, is used to using a grigri, or the rope is new/super slick. The climbing partner puts it in the first clipped bolt and it really helps decelerating his fall vie friction. g. In 2014, conservationist Mark Hesse died in a similar accident in Colorado. Jul 15, 2021 · Curious what you guys think, our gym is now removing their auto-belays (I assume as a response to both law suits and recent accidents). ). Reply reply Decent-Apple9772 • Stay updated with the latest car accidents and traffic crash reports near you. Sep 22, 2023 · In 2019, a climber fell 30 feet while using an auto-belay device at a Seattle climbing gym. Jan 17, 2007 · An accident happened at the Westway Sports Centre climbing wall on the 15th of January involving a red-point auto-belayer made by the USA company, MSA Rose and a climber was injured. The auto-belay itself is safer than the webbing and rope that comprise the rest of the system. Following the proper procedures and protocols, the risk of equipment failure can be substantially reduced. 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. . In the auto belay scenario you lack an extra set of eyes. His lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences. Feb 22, 2020 · Understanding auto belays can be a little unerving if you've not used one before, we cover how they work and how to use them safely. Despite using the device properly, the climber fell when the auto-belay device failed to function as intended. Lookup detailed auto, vehicle, and traffic collision reports near you. 4 days ago · The crash involved four vehicles and happened along US Highway 2 near mile marker 416, between the towns of Harlem and Chinook. If your belayer primarily topropes indoors, those are almost always heavy and slow/thick ropes. No mention of the brand of device though. Photo: masT3rOD /Flickr Auto-Belay Accident at Gym Post by justin » Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:08 am A woman has died following an auto-belay accident at Ascent Studio Climbing & Fitness, in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Saturday, June 12. Colorado-based C3 Manufacturing and Seattle’s 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. Oct 22, 2021 · Today, a Sydney, Australia climbing gym removed its auto=belays in the wake of a recent death at the facility. The person likely had not used one before. Fine in a proper climbing wall but not suitable, I would say, in a 'Fun Factory' environment. Most of the accidents have happened when climbers were well into their climbing session. If you didn't see that they were definitely clipped into the auto-belay, it's very likely that this is what happened. As of October 1, 2024, the company has received no reports of incidents or injury in Canada. Failure of gear can result in serious consequences. While reviewing last year’s accidents, a particularly improbable incident stood out. “This pause will allow us time to participate in industry conversations as they relate to the continued use of auto belays and make decisions on when, how or if they will be reintroduced into our facilities. Also in 2021, a 73-year-old man was seriously injured at a gym in Poland, falling 30 feet Jun 21, 2021 · Though auto belay accidents happen every year, deaths are uncommon. Also in 2021, a 73-year-old man was seriously injured at a gym in Poland, falling 30 feet after his auto-belay line reportedly broke. We have had a number of accidents in the UK where people have climbed on an auto belay route without clipping in. Though auto belay accidents happen every year, deaths are uncommon. but like how does that even happen You can look up reports about Auto belay accidents, it happens kind of regularly. Keywords: auto belay accident news, Kedra Parker interview, Bereket Simon insights, climbing safety awareness, climbing accident analysis, brandtop auto belays, Ethiopian climbing community, climbing gear safety tips, lessons from auto belay accidents, impact of climbing accidents on athletes Our head instructor had a friend of hers die from a belay accident many years ago and she absolutely took belaying as serious as she could and made sure every student worker she trained knew how to belay effectively and safely regardless of the conditions outdoors. Sep 21, 2023 · 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 Published Sep 21, 2023 Delaney Miller 4 days ago · The crash happened just before 5 p. What happens if you let go of auto belay? Feb 8, 2024 · As far as inanimate objects go, quickdraws are not ideal belayers. From the news item on their website, it seems the climber forgot to clip in. Believe it or not, autobelay accidents are common--not because the machines fail, but because climbers forget to clip in! Habit forming can prevent injury and even save your life. Scary stuff The gym where I work has had a sudden rash of people forgetting to clip in, and we are currently looking for every option available to increase the safety of our auto-belays. Seems a bit unfair. Something to be aware of: there's a difference between an auto belay failing due to some design or manufacturing flaw and failing due to wear and tear. Just shows, mistakes can happen even with very experienced and safety conscious climbers. 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. The driver of the Dodge Ram, a 65-year-old man, was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Though fatal accidents at indoor climbing gyms are extremely rare, there have been multiple cases involving auto-belays. Jan 25, 2023 · Your monthly dose of climbing accident analysis from the editors of "Accidents in North American Climbing. The driver, 17, was arrested. ” Others, meanwhile, took to lambasting both Frohbieter and climbing gym, or both, for the injury. 4 days ago · A catastrophic crash at almost 300 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats took the life of veteran racer Chris Raschke, who drove for the successful Speed Demon team. Oct 29, 2018 · Lead Belaying Mistakes Account for Climbing Accidents Most of the injuries in lead and top-rope climbing were due to belaying mistakes at 10 cases out of 23 lead/top rope climbing accidents logged. Odds of that happening? Nearly impossible odds, but in climbing we need to account for the unexpected and use stringent safety measures including double checking that our belay device is locked on. Any gym owners or anyone who owns any TRUBLUE auto belays, they have/are just about to, issue a recall notice. Accident Data Center is a unique information clearinghouse that provides timely, accurate accident information including: Date Auto Belay Accident—Climber Fell 45 ft due to tiny distractions leading to one big mistake in the gym Oct 14, 2021 · The climbing gym in Fort Collins released a statement Tuesday, and said the auto-belay systems that keep climbers from falling will not be used at least until a full investigation is completed. Sep 24, 2024 · A fine imposed on an indoor trampolining company after a child fell four metres from a climbing wall has been more than tripled to $40,000 following an appeal. With the 'newer' (quite old, still) models of auto belays, there's virtually zero maintenance required, even. Option 1 will lead to you dropping said climber. They're being removed because it turns out a partner check is just ridiculously important to avoid accidents on ropes over the long run. However, if the staff said there was an accident, it suggests they weren't closing the stations regularly enough. Auto Belay Accident—Climber Fell 45 ft due to tiny distractions leading to one big mistake in the gym Accident Data Center is a free, comprehensive resource for anyone looking for up-to-date and accurate information on recent accidents across the United States. " This month, we cover an increasingly common gym accident involving an auto belay; and the risk of rock fall at outdoor crags. With a partner, belay checks are habitual: checking your partner's figure-8, checking your ATC is properly rigged, carabiner's locked, etc. You'd think it would be impossible for someone to do it, but I know of three different occasions where this occurred. Must have assumed magic would catch them?? 3 days ago · A car full of teen boys from Inverness crashed on I-75 in Sumter County. Mar 3, 2025 · 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. After that, he started using his auto-locker even in the gym. Jan 22, 2025 · 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 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. 24 and was reported about on Aug. 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. Per another thread: “Vandivere is suing Vertical World on the basis that the gym staff should’ve clipped him into his auto belay. 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. Breaking News Feb 20, 2021 · TCA talks to the survivor of an auto belay no-clip accident. I am grateful for her training. Aug 30, 2018 · The accident happened on Aug. 1, 2019. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. It reopens on Friday, Oct. 22. The 50-year-old driver, hospitalized after the crash, was alone in Yeah, auto-belays aren't being removed because they're bad engineering. I don"t know, wht exactly happened, but since my partner and me have a similar weight difference, I have a recommendation for a device that makes belaying him od lead more safe in futuren. 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. ” 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. 1 day ago · Provides real-time traffic incident information from the California Highway Patrol. Most auto-belay accidents are the result of individuals failing to completely clip into the device, or forgetting to clip in entirely. 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. The krabs have been replaced with belay-master gate ones (i. A larger auto-belay gate will be put in place and auto-belay inductions with competent climbers will remain in place. We have been seeing an increasing number of accidents on auto belay lines which are gaining the attention of H&S and Environmental Health. Connect with local personal injury attorneys. And that's why I only belay with my Smart Alpine. znyfp rgazfs syhsr vvrvkoe rhx rromd wvok qhaj giqn hbc
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