The Yemeni al-Qa’qa’ bin Antar climber, known worldwide as "Spider-Man of Yemen", died during one of his extreme climbs. A 30-year-old fell into the crater of the extinct Haradhat Damt volcano (also called Hardah Dam) in Dhale Province in the south of the country. Despite rapid rescues, his body was recovered after a few hours. This tragedy shook fans who followed his courageous feats on social media.
Who was "Spider-Man of Yemen"?
Al-Qa’qa’ bin Antar (commonly called Antar al-Absi or Qaqaa Antar al-Absi) came from Yemen and quickly gained popularity through climbing recordings. Climbing steep cliffs, walls of mountains and edges of craters without ropes, harnesses or specialised equipment – often even barefoot.
His films virally ran around TikToka, Instagram and other platforms. He showed not only acrobatics, but also earned a living, painting tourist names with paint on rocks. For many he was a symbol of courage and determination in a country affected by difficulties.
How did the tragic accident occur?
The incident occurred on June 12, 2026. Antar attempted to overcome the inner wall of the Haradhat Damt crater – a popular tourist attraction with a hot, sulfur lake at the bottom. The crater is about 120 metres deep.
While climbing, he lost his grip and fell. The recordings captured by witnesses show a dramatic moment of loss of balance. Rescue action was complicated due to steep terrain and hot water – the body was recovered after several hours (some say four hours of intensive work).
