Tragic death in climbing hall: what we need to know about the accident

Tragic death in climbing hall: what we need to know about the accident

Berlin-Marienfelde, Deutschland - in Berlin-Marienfelde, a tragic accident occurred in the climbing hall "South Rock" today. A 54-year-old woman fell from several meters and could no longer be saved by the fire brigade and the emergency doctors. The Berlin police have already started investigations into the causes of the incident. The climbing hall itself did not comment on the tragic event out of consideration for the relatives. In connection with this accident it becomes clear that security in climbing is a top priority.

Elias Hitthaler from the German Alpine Association (DAV) points out that since 2000 all 14 fatal accidents in climbing in Germany have been attributed to integration errors. This makes the importance of correct integration and the use of safety devices particularly clear. According to a current study, the DAV reported a total of 261 incidents for 2024 that required a rescue operation or a stay in the clinic, which is considered comparatively low. Nevertheless, this number should not be underestimated in the context of climbing accidents.

safety measures in climbing

In the case of the incidents recorded, remarkable statistics are noticeable. Around 25 % of the accidents when climbing happen in rope climbing, while most of the accidents - namely 71 % - are eliminated. In particular, injuries to bouldering arise from felling on mats, with the arms and legs often affected. In the climbing halls, however, despite the increasing numbers, there is preventive measures.

• comprehensive warm -up program
• assembly and use of climbing handles to reduce the jump height
• full partner check before each climbing session

The correct handling of safety devices is also particularly important. A lack of communication between the climbing and errors in use often lead to accidents. Especially when climbing rope, soil falls and impact injuries are common, especially in the lead. Some measures, such as annual inspections of security machines, are already taken by operators and operators in the climbing halls. According to the motto: security has top priority!

technological innovations for more security

In Berlin, technical innovations for autobelay devices are also planned for which acoustic and optical signals should be given if the ropes are not attached correctly. Two providers have already developed such systems while a third product is currently being examined. However, the costs are an obstacle to the nationwide introduction of these security measures.

Smaller climbing halls often rely on regular checks by trained staff. Mendez Lenk from the climbing hall "Bouldergarten" emphasizes that despite all the precautions, a fatal accident cannot be completely excluded, but the probability is very low. A system that prevents the slacklines against inattentiveness and non -inputs of the Slacklines is seen as a further step in the right direction.

The collected data and statistics of organizations such as the Klever e.V. climbing hall association and the German Alpine Association DAV are essential to steadily increase the security in climbing. The accident statistics for 2023 shows that 218 accidents were recorded alone. Due to the number of unreported cases, however, significantly more incidents can be expected, which underlines the need for further preventive measures.

Further information on this topic can be found in the reports of Berlin Live , Climbing hall association and climbing scene .