Woman Suffers a Tragic End to Her Life as Rock Climbing Goes Horribly Wrong—Court Orders $1 Million Fine

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the year 2020 bore witness to a fatal rock climbing incident at the Taipei Neihu Sports Center. Adventure and thrill-seeking Su met her fateful end during the tragic fall.

The China Youth Corps (CYC), in association with a private rock climbing operator, has been charged guilty by the Shilin District Court. This article chronicles the compensation amount, shedding light on the negligence that led to the catastrophe.  

Lack of supervision results in rock-climbing tragedy

On August 29, 2020, Su embarked on a rock climbing endeavor at the outdoor area of CYC, the organization that has supervised the sports center since 2017. Even though she used crucial safety components required for the activity, including an automatic belay device, she failed to avoid the mishap. It was during her third attempt that she forgot to clip the belay.

It was Su’s father who brought the case to the district court and contended to ensure that his deceased daughter received proper justice. In his quest to seek justice, he placed a compensation claim from CYC over his daughter’s untimely death.

As reported by the Focus Taiwan, his request was to receive compensation amounting to NT$6 million jointly paid by the private rock climbing and CYC. To defend themselves from not paying the hefty amount, CYC placed their argument, stating that they have no liabilities on this accident since they have rented out the outdoor climbing area.  

Ruling and liability by the court ends in compensation claim

The operator safeguarded their reputation, stating that the woman had signed an agreement before proceeding with the adventure, even after being informed about the risks associated with it. Since there was no supervisor present at the site, her mistake was not addressed, and the critical lapse led to her fall as she eventually passed away, suffering from head injuries. 

Read More: Investigations Launched After Rock Climbing Takes the Life of a Man

The rock climbing wall operator paired with CYC failed to adhere to safety regulations and guidelines. Investigations proved that the equipment used during the outdoor activity was below expected safety standards. They refused to pay attention to place the safety flags in appropriate places, which in turn contributed to the unfortunate incident. 

Based on the information of the Taipei Times, keeping all these points into consideration, the court placed a verdict attributing 30 percent to the deceased woman and 70 percent of the liability to CYC and the operator. This joint charge signified that they are obligated to pay a remuneration amounting to NT$1.05 to the father of the deceased woman.

Even though the grieving father succeeded in claiming the compensation as a way of paying tribute to his daughter, the incident serves as a poignant reminder of how outdoor activities lead to putting lives at stake. Hence, these activities demand stringent safety measures and closer examinations to avoid such mishappenings in the future. 

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