In brief
Al‑Qaqa Ibn Antar, 30, gained fame on TikTok and Instagram for climbing the steep walls of Yemen’s Hardah Dam volcanic crater. He lost his grip and was pulled into the 120‑m wide, 30‑m deep crater. Yemen’s Civil Defence Authority launched a highly dangerous rescue mission, involving climbers and winching a cage into the crater. Although the body was recovered, the climber had died. The incident highlighted the risks of free‑climbing and the heroism of rescue teams.
‘Spider‑Man of Yemen’ Falls Into Volcano, Rescue Ends Tragedy
Al‑Qaqa Ibn Antar, a 30‑year‑old social‑media free‑climber, was killed on Saturday when he slipped from the steep walls of Yemen’s Hardah Dam volcano.
The crater, famous for its sulfur lake and towering rock faces, attracted popular TikTok clips of Antar climbing without any safety gear. A shaky video that spread on the internet captured the moment he lost his grip and fell into the 120‑m wide crater.
Yemen’s Civil Defence Authority stepped in. Over the weekend, a rescue team used climbers, rope equipment and a winch‑cage to pull Antar’s body from 30‑metre depths. The mission was described as "highly dangerous" and "one of the most difficult and complex field rescue missions".
While the team recovered the body, the climber’s death highlighted the dangers of unprotected rock‑climbing. The Civil Defence praised the team’s "heroic efforts" and promoted their rescuers for showing exceptional field capabilities in harsh conditions.
The Hardah Dam, located in Dhale province, has become a tourist attraction in recent years. Its sulphur lake sits at the crater’s base, attracting both climbers and curious visitors.
