The tragic end of Yemen s Spider Man in the Damt volcanic crater

Yemenat

Mohammad Al-Mekhlafi

The scene of Al-Qaqa Antar, nicknamed (Yemen’s Spider-Man) falling while performing one of his usual movements on the wall of the Haradhat Damt volcanic crater on the afternoon of Friday, June 11, remains stuck in my mind to this moment. Every time I recall that moment, I feel terror.

A young man standing on the edge of a deep abyss, holding on with his hands to a sharp rocky wall, performing dangerous acrobatic movements on the edge. Behind him and beneath him lies certain death. He moves with a confidence he has become accustomed to, before a single moment brings everything to an end.

For this reason, I hesitated greatly before writing about him, as the end was harsh for a young man whose name became associated with one of the most striking and mysterious natural sites in Yemen.

The Haradhat Damt volcanic crater is located in Al-Dhalea Governorate in southern Yemen, and it is considered the largest of the seven volcanic craters in the region. For thousands of years, it has stood as a witness to a long geological history. Its depth reaches around 130 meters, while hot sulfuric waters collect at its bottom, reaching temperatures of about 60 degrees Celsius.

On the walls of this majestic and dangerous place, Al-Qaqa made his fame.

He possessed rare talent and exceptional physical ability, but this talent was practiced in the most dangerous environments and without any real safety measures. Even the simplest means of safety, such as a rope fixed to a rock or a stable point and tied to his body to prevent falling, were not used.

As if he were betting each time on his own experience. He may also have dreamed that the videos he posted on his Facebook page would help him obtain