“He Cracked His Head”: Witnessing a Freak Accident Once Reminded Rock Climbing Legend Alex Honnold of His Worst Fears

Alex Honnold has delivered some of the most magical performances in the history of rock climbing. While most people think twice before stepping into the domain, Honnold seems to be absolutely passionate about the sport. However, even the most compatible climber is aware of the life-threatening risks of this field. Going solo on treacherous rocks only multiplies the risk a thousand times. 

Honnold is at the center of the Academy Award-winning documentary ‘Free Solo’ for good reason. Popular sports magazine, Life Beyond Sport, interviewed Alex Honnold where he gave an interesting insight into the dangerous arena of rock climbing.

Alex Honnold described his first encounter with a climbing accident

In a segment, the interviewers asked Alex Honnold about the reason for his strong mindset. The interviewer wanted to know if he or other climbers have a fear of death at all. Honnold broke the myth and said that he was not in this field to end his life. “I’ve never wanted to die”, he admitted.

Honnold further recalled a horrific accident that shook him to the core. He witnessed a fatal accident of a climber who fell from a great height and hit his head on the hard rocks. The climber died due to the excessive loss of blood. “He fell and cracked his head”, Honnold recounted. 

Read More: “He Was Supposed to Die That Way”: Rock Climbing Legend, Famous for Not Using Ropes, Received the Highest Honor From Peers After an Unfortunate Event Took Him Away

This was the first such encounter in Honnold’s entire career and had a major impact on his mindset. What scared him, even more, was the fact that the climber was wearing all the necessary protective equipment. “It was kind of sobering — he was even wearing a helmet” he described. The 37-year-old further added that it was a reminder that there is no safety assurance despite all precautionary measures. Honnold sensed the cruel fate of the sport for the very first time. 

The rising issue of solo climbers’ deaths

Rock climbing is an extreme sport. While adventurous and thrilling, people tend to miss out on the darker sides of this ambitious sport. Rock climbing is a tremendously risky sport and the precarious nature of natural conditions at greater heights makes it life-threatening. 

The year 2021 has witnessed the deaths of several popular climbers. The list ranges from veteran climbers like the 89-year-old Jolene Unsoeld to the 28-year-old Cameron Maxwell.

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While there has been a constant romanticization about the climbers’ sacrifices most of the time, the rate of mishappenings can throw anyone into deep thinking. Some countries have even banned solo climbing because of an increasing number of reported deaths due to the risk involved.