Sydney rock climbing facility suggests auto belay failure responsible for death

The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym is reopening today, nine days after a man fell 13 metres to his death last week while climbing.

Wednesday 13th October saw emergency services called to the facility in the Sydney inner west suburb of St Peters after thw man, believed to be in his 30s, suffered head and chest injuries after falling from a climbing wall. He could not be saved by paramedics

Closed since the incident, the gym has announced on social media that it will be reopening on today (Friday 22nd October).

The reopening announcement also advises that a failure of an auto bely device (which allows someone to climb a wall without a partner) caused the man to fall.

Posted yesterday, the statement on the facility’s Facebook page advises “regarding the accident on 13th October, we have been authorised to say:

“It involved an auto belay failure. All our auto belays have been taken away and auto belays will not be used again at St Peters. No other equipment was involved.

“Out of respect for everyone involved we would ask that everyone avoid speculation.

“We can add that we have undertaken a comprehensive program of equipment inspection and testing prior to the re-opening tomorrow.

The man’s death came just days after the gym reopened following the end of Sydney’s lockdown.

According to its website, the St Peters facility is the biggest climbing gym in the southern hemisphere, with 3700 metres² of climbing walls, and has been open since 1993.

SafeWork NSW has been investigating the incident.

Main image credit Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym/Facebook.