He had trouble with the very top of the route but he floated the bottom bit. I put in a piece and a back-up on the bottom, both of which would catch a truck in free fall. I figured since he floated through the bottom that he could just climb and put gear as he pleased. He had a helmet on.
XXXX's head popped off when he was on lead. Nothing seemed to be working right. He climbed a bit too high and fell with the rope behind his heel. His body ended up hitting my body on the way down because I threw a body block intentionally to keep him off the rock. I came out of it with a badly bruised knee. Walking today and certain positions are painful. He hit me and then the knee hit rock. I am convinced that nothing is broken and I doubt that ligament injury deep in the knee has occurred. I guess I will let it heal and if it doesn't quit bugging me I will need to go to the doctor. I can't run and walking long distance is out. XXXX came out of it with just a few minor scrapes. I was off the ground when the action stopped; he was upside down with his head literally 3 ft off the deck!
I was shaking and nearly in shock to think that I could have had a part in a man's death. He and his wife just had a child. I have been replaying the incident in my head. I think I learned a lesson or two. However, I thought I learned a lesson before.
XXXX is English. You would never believe what he said to me after I got him turned around correctly and his butt on the ground. He said, "THAT was a proper fall!" "I see what you mean by the gear being good if it's good!" "Let me catch my breath, I'll give'r another go." I was getting ready to back up and go home.
I put in good gear higher up. He got back on the horse and placed a few pieces even higher and then I lowered him off the gear he placed after he decided quit climbing. CRAZY!! and insane if those two adjectives are indeed different.
Be careful out there people. This is a dangerous game. I hope this message gets someone thinking about risk assessment. I thought we were ok, when I set it up. However, as far as I am concerned I pushed the parameters too close to the un-safe zone!! If the rope had not been behind the heal all would have been well.
If you have an opinion that I can learn from please post it. I am still a bit freaked out. Let's talk.
