A daredevil known as 'The Spider-Man of Yemen' has died after falling into a volcano crater while attempting to climb without safety equipment. Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, 30, was climbing the walls of the Hardah Dam volcanic crater in Dhale, Yemen, on Friday when he lost his grip and fell.
Fatal Plunge
After plunging into the 120-metre crater, the Civil Defence Authority said, his body sank 100 feet below the surface. A 10-second video shows Mr Antar climbing a rocky cliff without any safety equipment. On the cliff he is scaling, names in Arabic have been written in white across the rocky wall. He is then seen holding the cliff with his right hand, with his left hand in the air, before he appears to lose his right grip and falls.
Rescue Operation
Rescue teams, including diving and water specialists, were sent to retrieve Mr Antar's body, which was found by divers at a depth of 30 metres below the surface. The four-hour search and rescue operation was described by the authority as 'complex' due to the steep and rocky location, which made access difficult.
About the Crater
The Hardah Dam – known also as the Haradhat Damt – is a unique volcanic crater located near the city of Damt, in Yemen's southern Dahle province. A landmark of the region, the crater has steep rocky walls with a hot sulfurous lake at its base.
Social Media Fame
Mr Antar had gained fame on social media platforms where he posted videos showing him performing high-risk ascents of some of Yemen's most rugged terrain. His videos often went viral. In one of them, he was seen hanging from the edge of a rocky cliff using his bare hands, his legs dangling toward a steep slope in a risky performance without safety equipment.
Safety Warning
The Civil Defence Authority has urged those who climb and engage in adventure sports to observe safety procedures. They also issued a warning to use 'appropriate protective gear to avert similar incidents' after Mr Antar's death.
