The mountaineer known as the ‘Spider-Man of Yemen’ has died after falling into a volcanic crater in the Arabian Peninsula. The incident, which occurred in an unnamed volcanic field in western Yemen, has prompted British climbers who were part of the expedition to issue urgent safety warnings about the region’s unstable terrain.
The deceased, identified as Ali al-Sanabani, 34, was renowned for his free-solo ascents of the region’s jagged peaks. His nickname derived from his ability to scale vertical rock faces without ropes or harnesses. He was attempting a first ascent of a lava dome when the ground gave way. Rescue teams recovered his body from the crater’s rim after a ten-hour operation.
A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office confirmed that two UK nationals, who were documenting the climb for a documentary, witnessed the fall. They have since returned to Sana’a where they are cooperating with local authorities. In a joint statement read through their solicitor, they described the terrain as ‘unforgiving’ and warned that ‘even the most experienced climbers cannot anticipate every geological hazard.’
‘The volcano may appear dormant, but its slopes are brittle,’ the statement added. ‘We urge all mountaineers to exercise extreme caution when traversing volcanic fields in conflict zones.’ Yemen, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, has limited search and rescue capabilities. The country’s volcanic regions, while geologically active, are rarely visited by foreign climbers due to security concerns.
Al-Sanabani’s death has reignited debate about the ethics of extreme sport in war-torn countries. Dr. Imran al-Houthi, a geologist at the University of Sana’a, noted that the crater’s rim was ‘composed of loose scoria and tephra, which are notoriously unstable. It was a tragedy waiting to happen.’
The British Embassy in Riyadh is coordinating repatriation of al-Sanabani’s remains. No date has been set for the return. His family, reached by phone in Aden, declined to comment.
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Yemen, emphasising the risks of adventure tourism in remote areas. The climbing community has expressed condolences, with the British Mountaineering Council stating that ‘individual risk assessment remains paramount.’
Al-Sanabani was not a member of any professional climbing body. He gained international attention in 2021 after climbing the 2,000-metre face of Jabal al-Nabi Shu’ayb without ropes. His solo ascents were a symbol of defiance for many Yemenis living under the Houthi blockade.
This report will be updated.
