Overview
- A 49-year-old climber fell about 16 meters while being lowered inside a Sendling climbing gym in Munich.
- Police said the rope ran through the belay device without any braking force for reasons that are not yet known.
- A belay device is a hand-held brake that adds friction to the rope, and if it is set up wrong or fails, the rope can move freely.
- The climber suffered serious injuries to his spine and legs, and paramedics took him to a hospital.
- His 34-year-old belayer, a friend, burned his hands trying to grab the rope and later sought medical care, and police have opened an inquiry that will examine the gear, procedures, and witness accounts, which could lead to safety checks at local gyms.