LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - Via mountaintraining.ie we’ve been alerted to the man who fell from 6m and somersaulted mid-air out of the fall to land on all-fours rather than his head! It was said his training as a ballet dancer helped him avoid serious head injuries!

Coastguards said the man had been on a 100ft (30m) climb of the ‘Arrow’ on Sunday when his gear came loose and he fell. He injured his shoulder and aggravated an old foot injury after landing on the ledge below on all fours.

He was subsequently assisted by a Coast Guard cliff rescue team who lowered in from the top, and then evac carried out by RAF helicopter winch.

The casualty was a 33-year-old experienced climber from London, and the climb was The Arrow at St Govans Head, near Castlemartin described as fantastic seacliff climbing from mostly non-tidal stances. The Arrow is described as being an E1 5b Classic and the area. It’s interesting that the gear is described as excellent, and this is what caused the accident.

Probably the most popular route in Pembroke follows cracks and flakes up the right-hand side of the buttress. The climbing is never too difficult, the gear is excellent and it’s even got some flowstone! It is becoming a bit polished. Start just to the right of the flake of ‘Cupid’s Bow’. Climb up to gain a rightwards trending line of cracks. Climb this, past the flowstone, to a tricky move right into a groove. Most people finish rightwards to a ledge and easy grooveabove, but it is better to pull straight through the roof with no increase in grade. © ROCKFAX

It makes a good headline anyway. Mind you, I have never seen a ballet dancer somersault ever, have you?

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Howth Coast Guard ‘Cliff Rescue Unit’ on training exercise, by Author.)