We were hoping this day would never come, but unfortunately the first fatal climbing accident on Kalymnos happened today. A Swiss climber lost his life this afternoon at sector Summertime/Magoulias Wall when he fell to the ground from the top of the route Fred 6b (30m). The exact cause of the accident cannot be determined, but it looks like the climber made a fatal error whilst untying and threading his rope through the lower-off, which is non-clipable (2 rings). The Kalymnos Rescue Team and the ambulance rushed to the crag, but it was already too late.
All of us here on the island, climbers and non-climbers alike, have been shocked and saddened by this unthinkable tragedy. On behalf of everybody on the Rescue Team and at Climb Kalymnos, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, who were with him at the crag, and to all who loved him.
My husband and I were climbing on Magulas Wall a few weeks ago when we came across the Memorial for Fred. We were shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Fred. Having experienced a recent bereavement, I can truly empathise with the anguish and sense of loss that his family and close friendships are feeling at this point in time.
Bernie and I said some prayers alongside the memorial and I plan to lay some flowers on the memorial when we return to Kalymnos next year. Fred’s family remain in our thoughts.
