Federation responds after deadly Val Antwerp rock climmer in Dinant: « Tragic event, probably after human error » (Antwerp)
An Antwerp rock climmer died on Saturday in an accident in Pont-à-Lesse, near Dinant. The man fell fifteen meters down, his climbing partner was seriously injured. According to the climbing and mountaineering federation, the tragic accident happened due to a human error.
The emergency services rushed to Rocher du Castel on Saturday afternoon, a popular climbing massif with several rock walls in Pont-à-Lesse at Dinant. Two rock climbers, originating from Antwerp, had fallen at the Castel 2 sub -massif.
The victims fell down about fifteen meters. One of the climbers died of his injuries on the spot. The second climber was taken to the hospital in Dinant with serious injuries.
The Flemish climbing and mountaineering federation (KBF) organized her Day of the Berg athlete on Saturday with activities on the massives of Pont-à-Lesse and the nearby Freyr. « Employees of the Federation were quickly on site to assist the emergency services, » the KBF reports in a press release.
Sub-Massif Castel 2 in Pont-à-Lesse. – © KBF
« The first findings on the spot indicate that there is probably a human error to the origin of the tragic event. The keeping of the massif was still intact, » says the KBF, who expresses her condolences to the loved ones and to the club involved to which both climbers were affiliated. Walloon media reported on Saturday that the accident took place on a Via Ferrata, but the KBF still refutes that.
The fire brigade of the Dinaphi zone came up with, among other things, a specialized climbing team on site.
How the accident could happen is not yet clear. The public prosecutor’s office has started an investigation into the precise circumstances. The Limburg Bergsport Association, to which both victims were affiliated, does not want to respond further to the accident out of respect for the relatives. « We are waiting for the results of the investigation, » says Robin Declercq chairman.
Rock climbing is, just like indoor climbing and bouldering in recent years. The KBF therefore prints everyone who wants to practice the sport on the heart to follow a course at one of the 44 official KBF clubs in Flanders. « Climbing skills are recognized by all clubs and show that the holder has the necessary competencies to do sports or rock climbing, » says the Federation.
