Yemeni “Spider-Man” Dies After Fall Inside Volcanic Crater

Al-Qaqa'a bin Antar, a 30-year-old Yemeni social media figure known as the “Yemeni Spider-Man,” died on June 12 after a fall inside a volcanic crater near the city of Damt in southwest Yemen. He had built an online following with videos of himself climbing cliffs, mountains, and steep walls with bare hands, often without a helmet, ropes, or any safety gear.

According to the report, he was attempting to climb an inner wall of the crater, whose walls are estimated at about 120 meters high, when he slipped and fell to his death. The crater is considered especially dangerous. The fatal moment was filmed and circulated on social media, shocking his followers.

The video appears to show bin Antar descending into the crater and then trying to climb back out, apparently as part of a filming session or climbing challenge. At some point during the climb, he lost his grip and fell. The article says the incident happened in front of his friends.

After the death, many users paid tribute to him and called him brave, while others pointed to the high cost of dangerous challenge culture online. What had looked for years like an almost superhuman spectacle ended in tragedy.