In brief
Al‑Qaqa Ibn Antar, a 30‑year‑old free‑climber known as the ‘Spider‑Man of Yemen’, lost his life after falling into Yemen’s Hardah Dam volcanic crater during an unprotected climb. The incident drew widespread attention when footage of his fall circulated online. Yemen’s Civil Defence Authority praised the daring rescue that recovered his body from the 30‑metre‑deep crater, describing the operation as highly dangerous and among the most complex in the country. The crater, a popular tourist landmark with a hot sulfur lake at its base, remains an iconic feature of southwestern Yemen.
Al‑Qaqa Ibn Antar, a 30‑year‑old free‑climber known online as the “Spider‑Man of Yemen”, died after falling into the Hardah Dam volcanic crater in southwestern Yemen. Authorities say he was attempting to scale the steep wall on Friday without safety equipment.
Antar had earned a large following on social media for daring acrobatic stunts captured in videos. A widely shared video appears to show him losing his grip and plunging into the crater.
Yemen’s Civil Defence Authority praised the “heroic efforts” of its water‑rescue team, which succeeded in retrieving Antar’s body from the bottom of the crater. The operation was described as “highly dangerous” and “one of the most difficult and complex field rescue missions.”
Rescuers scaled the crater’s side with climbing gear and winched a cage down to recover the body. Divers found Antar’s body at a depth of 30 metres (98 feet) inside the 120‑metre‑wide crater, according to the Associated Press.
The Hardah Dam, located in Dhale province, is a popular tourist attraction featuring a hot sulfur lake at its base. Its crater remains one of Yemen’s most iconic natural landmarks.
