Yemeni Daredevil ‘Spider-Man’ Dies After Fatal Volcanic Crater Fall

A Yemeni adventurer, nicknamed “The Spider-Man of Yemen,” died following a fatal fall into a volcanic crater during a daring climb without safety equipment, officials confirmed.

CAIRO — A daring Yemeni adventurer renowned for climbing treacherous landscapes without protective gear succumbed to injuries sustained in a 30-meter fall into a sulfurous volcanic crater in southern Yemen.

Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar, 30, perished while scaling the Hardah Dam volcanic crater in Dhale Province on Friday. The Civil Defense Authority stated he lost his footing while ascending steep, volcanic rock formations. A short viral video captured him briefly clinging to the cliff face before plunging into the crater’s hot, acidic lake.

Rescue divers recovered Antar’s body 30 meters (98 feet) below the waterline following a four-hour operation. The challenging terrain complicated efforts to locate and retrieve him. Officials highlighted the incident as a stark reminder of the risks associated with unassisted climbing in unstable geological formations.

Hardah Dam (Haradhat Damt), a geological landmark near Damt, features vertical basalt walls surrounding a geothermal pool rich in sulfur compounds. Its fame grew through social media videos showcasing Antal’s extreme ascending feats, including a viral clip where he perilously hung from a cliff edge using only his fingertips, legs suspended above a precipitous slope.

The Civil Defense Authority condemned such high-risk activities in fragile environments, calling for mandatory safety gear and trained supervision in extreme adventure pursuits after Antar’s death exposed systemic safety protocol violations.

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