A Czech climber did not survive a belay failure in the Jurassic Park sector. Devastating news has come from Kalymnos, Greece. On Friday, March 27, 2026, a 60-year-old Czech climber died after a fixed anchor failed in the Jurassic Park sector. The incident was marked not only by a critical technical failure but also by a chaotic and tragically protracted rescue operation.

Details of the accident

The accident occurred on the route St. Savvas, (7b+), which was bolted in 2002. According to information from the Team Rebolt initiative, the climber successfully topped out the route, clipped the chain, and began rappelling down while cleaning the route.
The moment he unclipped the first two quickdraws below the belay, both bolts forming the belay broke. The third bolt in the sequence could not withstand the resulting impact load and also broke. The climber fell approximately 10 meters onto a rock ledge. Despite the terrifying fall, he was conscious and responsive immediately afterward.


Broken rivets in the rappelling chain
Photo from an Instagram post by the Rebolt team

Five hours of a futile struggle for life

The accident was witnessed by Lithuanian climber Kęstutis Skrupskelis, who posted a chilling account of the rescue operation on his profile. His description paints a picture of a total failure of the local rescue system:

Delay: The first group of volunteer rescuers didn’t arrive until two hours later, and they came without stretchers, splints, or adequate medical supplies.

Helicopter: The helicopter that was called in attempted the evacuation twice, but the pilot abandoned the maneuver—first due to the proximity of the cliff face, and the second time due to wind and rain.

Logistics and equipment: Climbers and rescuers had to carry the injured person by hand to the top of the cliff and then, in the rain and darkness, carry him down slippery goat trails. The doctor, who arrived with a significant delay, did not have basic medications with him (e.g., a witness had to provide adrenaline from his own first-aid kit).

The End of Hope

Five hours after the accident was reported, during a difficult off-road transport, the climber succumbed to his internal injuries.

According to experts from Team Rebolt, the main cause of the accident was the age of the hardware (approximately 24 years). The route was equipped with 10mm expansion bolts of an unidentified brand bearing Petzl labels. In the aggressive coastal environment, internal corrosion likely occurred, which could not be detected by visual inspection. It is important to emphasize that the climber made no mistake.


Safety Warning for Climbers on Kalymnos
This tragedy prompted an immediate response and pressure to review bolting practices across the entire island. Team Rebolt has issued the following recommendations:

Do not climb routes bolted before 2005 that have not been verifiably rebolted

Safe routes are typically equipped with RAUMER adhesive bolts or LAPPAS expansion bolts.

In sectors such as Jurassic Park or Olympic Wall, where there is lower climber traffic, exercise increased caution and check the condition of the belay stations.

Report any suspicious protection on the website reboltkalymnos.org.

This dark day for Czech and international climbing serves as a sad reminder that even in a popular climbing destination like Kalymnos, the things we trust most - rock and metal - can fail.

The editors of Lezec extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of our late friend.


Source:

Facebook.com/reboltkalymnos/