Yemen’s ‘Spider-Man’ Falls to His Death in Volcano Crater

Yemen is mourning the death of Al-Qaqa’a bin Antar Al-Absi, a 30-year-old stunt climber nicknamed “the Spider-Man of Yemen” for videos showing him scaling sheer drops barefoot and without safety gear. He died after falling into the crater of Harat Damt volcano in northern Al-Dhalea province, in southern Yemen.

According to Arab reports, Al-Absi was climbing again without a rope or protective equipment when his foot slipped and he fell tens of meters into the dormant volcanic crater, which contains hot water. The rocky area is described as extremely steep and dangerous, especially without proper protection. Al Jazeera quoted an eyewitness saying he landed on his back and head and suffered bleeding from his ears and face. Some social media users circulated a video they claimed showed the fatal fall, but one Arab outlet said the clip was from 2025 and not the deadly incident.

Rescue efforts began on Friday and continued for about a day before civil defense teams in the area recovered his body on Saturday. The retrieval was documented and shared across Arab social media. Mohammed Al-Kanasi, commander of the Yemeni civil defense diving and rescue unit, was said to have carried out one of the “most difficult and dangerous rescue missions in Yemen” by descending to the volcano floor to bring the body out, in intense heat rising from the crater.

Al-Absi had become known for climbing rough rock faces quickly and skillfully, using his physical abilities to perform acrobatic stunts and, at times, to help with rescues. He had also climbed the same volcano before, and videos from April showed him moving up and down the slope while performing calisthenics-style moves, including a flag position supported by the rocks. The volcano is a tourist site about 160 kilometers south of Sanaa, with sulfur springs and a hot sulfur lake that attract visitors but also make the area dangerous. The weekend death prompted renewed discussion on the need for safety equipment.