A British climber has died after a massive rockfall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when more than 1,000 tonnes of granite fell from the monolith, crushing the man and injuring his partner, a British woman. The woman remains in critical condition after being airlifted from the scene.
The pair, who have not been named pending notification of relatives, were part of a group scouting a climbing route when a sheet of granite measuring approximately 40 metres by 20 metres fell from a height of 200 metres. Park ranger Scott Gediman said they were found with climbing equipment and were likely preparing to ascend the wall.
At least 30 climbers were on El Capitan at the time of the rockfall, which occurred on the popular Waterfall route. The two Britons were the only known casualties, though a search is ongoing. Witness Peter Zabrok described seeing a piece of white granite the size of an apartment building peel away from the mountain face.
Yosemite records about 80 rockfalls per year, but fatalities are rare. This is the first death from a rockfall in the park in 18 years. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with local authorities and providing assistance to both families.
