“Hit the Rope With My Neck”: Rock Climbing Icon Escaped a Tragic Fate After Alex Honnold Rescued Her in 2019

Rock climbing legend Alex Honnold added another feather to his shining legacy in 2019. This is when he was hailed as a hero for coming to the rescue of another world-renowned rock climber. Alex Honnold’s presence at the right place at the right time ensure that the climber lived to see another day. Here’s how the events unfolded on that day.

On November 22, 2019, a then-33-year-old Emily Harrington was charting the notoriously difficult El Capitan. She took a bad fall from a 50 ft height on the 3200 ft granite wall. Fortunately, Honnold’s presence proved to be of some comfort for the climber, who was otherwise in grave danger.

Here’s why Alex Honnold was the best person present there to help Harrington

Alex Honnold calmly maintained his spinal immobilization against the wall, prepared for an evacuation, and kept Harrington busy by narrating stories. Honnold did so to ensure that she didn’t fall asleep, which could potentially be fatal to someone suffering from a concussion. Harrington’s fall from such a great height could have very well given her a concussion.

As per an article by New York Post, Harrington said, “I had an accident yesterday on El Cap. I’m banged up but gonna be ok thankfully. Not much to say except I took a bad fall and pinballed a bit then somehow hit the rope with my neck”, recalling the incident.

She thankfully survived the fall but was hospitalized for facial injuries and severe rope burns across her neck. The whole world immediately hailed Honnold for keeping his calm and composure amidst such tense moments. One person who was especially indebted to Honnold was Harrington’s boyfriend.

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Emily Harrington’s boyfriend (now husband) Adrian Ballinger feared his then-girlfriend had suffered spinal injuries or something more serious. He described Honnold’s presence there as, “the best case scenario of the worst case scenario”, after realizing he saved her. It indicated the irony of how the most beloved person in his life was in such grave danger and at the same time, the one person who could’ve most safely transported her back to safety i.e. Alex Honnold was also present there.

Harrington’s boyfriend feels a tremendous debt of gratitude towards Honnold

Here’s what he said in detail, “The most important person in my world crumpled on a ledge after a big fall in below-freezing temperatures with real injuries and a lot of reasons to suspect a spinal injury. But looking back it was also the best case scenario of the worst case scenario – Alex Honnold with Em calmly maintaining spinal immobilization on the wall, getting things ready for an evac, and telling stories and keeping her talking throughout”.

Alex Honnold could help Harrington by drawing from his previous experiences of charting the El Capitan. Harrington and Ballinger married each other in 2021 atop a rock in Ecuador. They recently welcomed a new baby into their household. Here’s wishing for a prosperous and healthy year ahead for the happy couple.

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