Dangers of Rock Climbing

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 163, 11 July 1940, Page 6

Dangers of Rock Climbing

REVELATIONS AT INQUEST

Per Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 10,

“Rock climbing is a hazardous pastime and this unfortunate and untimely accident shows that all who indulge in it should take all recognised precautions, ” said the coroner (Mr. F. F. Reid, S.M.) at tho inquest into the death of Sadie Isabel Barnett who died after an accident near Mount Herbert on June 9.

William Henry Donald Barnett, the girl’s brother, said that a party of five was descending a 100 ft. spur at Angel Pavement. Douglas Jaggcr was roped to Frank Gillett, Sadie Barnett wfia roped to Selwyn Bodger and witness was climbing alone. Witness was beside his sister who was below Bodger and halfway down the face. Gillett and Jagger had reached the bottom when Bodger overbalanced and slipped. Falling past witness and his sister he fell 70 feet and the 60-feet rope jerked Sadie Barnett off so that she fell about 60ft. and landed on the rocks. She was unconscious and did not regain consciousness before she died at 5.50 p.m.

Salwyn Albert Bodger said he was above Miss Bodger belaying her and keeping tho rope taut to check a slip when he was descending. He told Miss Barnett to pull in some ropo in case he slipped but she replied “You won’t slip,” and did not take in the rope.

Francis Sydney Gillett, who was below with Jagger, said he saw Bodger overbalance and fall vertically. “There was no suggestion of negligence and it was the sort of accident that would happen at any time. Both were climbing carefully,’' he said. Douglas Jagger said that when Miss Barnett was tugged off by tho rope she was flung out to the full extent of the

Dr. B. 11. Gihnour, Lyttelton, said he had been called to Gebbie’s Pass. He could not do anything for Miss Barnett whose skull was broken.

George Gerald Lockwood, called by the police as an expert witness, defined a belay, tho best way of making one being to fasten the rope around tho body, then loop it around a piece of rock and then around the next climber.

“Angel Favement demands highly specialised technique of rock climbing,” he said, “and the rules though known hero are not in common use as they should be.” There had been no attempt to use such a belay in this case and tho responsibility was on Miss Barnett who apparently had thought that the descent was a safe one for Bodger, witness said. “If a rope is not used for a belay it is really a source of danger,” witness said, “and when • belay is requested there is tho utmost need to take one.”

The coroner found that death was due to injuries accidentally received.