Yemen's Spider-Man dies after volcanic crater fall

A 30-year-old Yemeni adventurer known online as the "Spider-Man of Yemen" has died after falling into a volcanic crater while attempting a climb without ropes or safety equipment. Al-Qaqa bin Antar, also widely reported as Qaqaa Antar al-Absi, lost his footing and fell inside the Haradhat Damt crater in Yemen's Al Dhale province on Friday, June 12.

Civil Defence teams recovered his body on Saturday following a complex, nearly 24-hour rescue operation. Authorities reported that the recovery effort was extremely difficult due to the crater's hazardous terrain, which required the deployment of specialist teams with lighting and water rescue equipment. The crater is estimated to be approximately 120 meters deep.

Bin Antar had gained a large social media following by documenting his daring ascents of cliffs, mountains, and volcanic formations across Yemen, often climbing without any protective gear. His ability to scale near-vertical rock faces earned him widespread recognition and his online nickname. In addition to his adventure content, he was known in local communities for using his climbing skills to help retrieve livestock stranded in remote areas.