"Yemen Spider-Man" Falls to His Death While Climbing Volcanic Crater

(CNA, Cairo, 15th - International News Compilation) Yemen's civil defense authorities announced that Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, the adventurer known as the "Yemen Spider-Man," has died after falling while climbing the steep wall of a volcanic crater without using any safety equipment. His body has been recovered.

According to an Associated Press report, the 30-year-old Antar (Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar) lost his grip and fell on the 12th of this month while scaling the 120-meter-deep Haradhat Damt volcanic crater in Dhale Governorate, southwestern Yemen.

Civil defense authorities released a short video clip showing the moment of his fall. The approximately 10-second footage shows Antar climbing barehanded without any safety gear. He is seen gripping the rock with his right hand and extending his left arm into the air before releasing his right hand and plunging downward.

A rescue team, including divers and water experts, was dispatched to search for him. Divers eventually discovered his body 30 meters beneath the surface of the crater's water. Due to the rugged terrain and difficult access, the search operation lasted four hours, which authorities described as "extremely complex."

Antar had gained popularity on social media by frequently sharing videos of his high-risk climbs across Yemen's rugged landscapes. In one video, he was seen hanging from a cliff edge with his feet dangling, performing a dangerous stunt.

Yemen's civil defense authorities urged adventure and climbing enthusiasts to strictly follow safety regulations and reminded the public of the necessity of wearing "appropriate protective equipment to prevent similar incidents from occurring again." (Translation: Hung Pei-Ying) 1150615