‘Spider-Man of Yemen’ Al-Qaqa Ibn Antar dies in fall while climbing the Hardah Dam volcanic crater

Cairo — The daredevil stuntman known as the “Yemeni Spider-Man” died after falling into a volcano crater while trying to climb vertical rocks without safety equipment, authorities said.

Al-Qaqa bin Antar, 30, was climbing the steep walls of the Haradh volcanic dam crater in the southern Al-Dhalea Governorate on Friday when he lost his grip and fell into the 120-meter (393-foot) hole, according to the Civil Defense Authority, which posted a short video clip documenting the moment he fell.

The 10-second video shows Antar climbing a rocky slope without any safety equipment. On the cliff, names in Arabic were climbing, written in white across the rock wall. He is then seen holding the cliff with his right hand, with his left hand in the air, before he appears to lose his right grip and falls.

Rescue teams, including diving and water specialists, were dispatched to recover Antar’s body, which was found by divers 30 meters (100 feet) below the surface of the water. The authority described the search and rescue operation, which took four hours, as “complicated” due to the steep and rocky location that made access difficult.

Haradh Dam – also known as Haradah Dam – is a unique volcanic crater located near the city of Damt in Al Dhalea Governorate in southern Yemen. The crater is a landmark of the area, featuring steep rock walls with a hot sulfur lake at its base.

Antar had gained fame on social media platforms, posting videos showing him making high-risk climbs on some of the most rugged terrain in Yemen. His videos often went viral. In one of them, he was seen hanging from the edge of a rocky cliff using his bare hands, and his legs were dangling towards a steep slope in a risky performance without safety equipment.

The Civil Defense Authority urged those who climb and practice adventure sports to observe safety measures and issued a warning to use “appropriate protective equipment to avoid similar accidents.”