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Fatality at Arapiles 11/11/14

MarkDoman

11-Nov-2014
7:01:28 PM

A man dies in a suspected rock-climbing accident at Mount Arapiles in Victoria's west

peteclimbs

11-Nov-2014
7:07:19 PM

At the risk of stating the obvious, it appears that Mark Doman, the author of this post, is the ABC journo responsible for the article. Bear that in mind when responding.

Very sad news. RIP to the chap involved.

MarkDoman

11-Nov-2014
7:13:37 PM

As it says on the story as you click through and on my username Pete.


ChuckNorris

11-Nov-2014
8:37:39 PM

Mark

Before you a number of well meaning people on this site were burnt by the first generation of twitter journalists who cant make a story without quoting social media. I'm glad that you the second generation of twit journos are at least respectful enough to use their names when creating an identity. Unfortunately it seems you are arrogant enough to shirtfront Pete at a tragic moment for " not clicking on your username", so maybe not much has changed.

Please don't reply to this post.

Mods if you think what I wrote above is out of order just delete it. Sorry for the hassle.


Miguel75

11-Nov-2014
8:43:24 PM

My thoughts and condolences to all involved.


EleNora

11-Nov-2014
9:23:52 PM

Wow. Hope we'll get a lot more info than that. What kind of fall was it?

My thoughts to this poor man's family.


Rich

12-Nov-2014
7:08:27 AM

Oh no, sorry to hear this. Does anyone have anymore info??

richo23

12-Nov-2014
7:52:31 AM

I know the Chris through as my girlfriend worked with him, have had many talks about climbing and the other activities he is involved in but never had the pleasure if actually climbing with him. Thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Does anyone have any info on what happened? My girlfriend being friend with him and also being a climber is extremely upset and is after a bit of closure. Please PM me if you have any info on what happened, if your a journo do not bother contacting me as you will get nothing, alot of his friends are only just finding out this morning our loss.


Rich

12-Nov-2014
9:21:39 AM

Chris who?

kieranl

12-Nov-2014
9:22:45 AM

Please don't mention names until it is clear that next-of-kin have been notified.

dalai

12-Nov-2014
9:25:07 AM

On 11/11/2014 MarkDoman wrote:
>As it says on the story as you click through and on my username Pete.

There is no mention in your user profile (hotmail account used) that you are the journalist, plus in the article the only reference to your name is in small print on the photo. Therefore peteclimbs is well within his right to warn us.

Since you have joined for what appears to only post your article which does appear an effort to illicit a response and possible quotes for further articles since yours is so brief, your account and subsequent posts will be monitored and if the moderators feel your membership is inappropriate then your account will be disabled.

Do not quote any comments in this topic or any others on the matter - allow those that knew him a place to grieve.

I am one of the moderators - if you feel this is unfair, either PM or email me to discuss.


Rich

12-Nov-2014
9:34:05 AM

No you're right, sorry.

richo23

12-Nov-2014
10:21:08 AM

Next of Kin have been notified but I don't feel that it will ever be my place to provide any more information. Some else can do that, I just wanted to know a little bit more and mentioned Chris's name so that anyone who actually is involved and can share information, would know that I do actually know him and not just searching for a story to publish.

Chuckufarli

12-Nov-2014
10:27:51 AM

Deepest sympathy to the family. a little more information in this link:
http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/2690736/mt-arapiles-death-man-falls-from-king-rat-gully-climb/?cs=4122


Sabu

12-Nov-2014
10:41:18 AM

Thank you for the link Chuck. A tragic accident and by the sounds of it, something that could easily happen to any one of us.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.


DownSideUp

12-Nov-2014
11:30:12 AM

I have a friend up there at the moment and last night I had that sick feeling in my stomach hoping it wasn't him. Knowing now I still feel sick to my stomach for this bloke and his girlfriend, family and friends. My deepest condolences.


billk

12-Nov-2014
12:02:03 PM

On 12/11/2014 dalai wrote:
>On 11/11/2014 MarkDoman wrote:
>>As it says on the story as you click through and on my username Pete.
>
>There is no mention in your user profile (hotmail account used) that you
>are the journalist, plus in the article the only reference to your name
>is in small print on the photo. Therefore peteclimbs is well within his
>right to warn us.
>
>Since you have joined for what appears to only post your article which
>does appear an effort to illicit a response and possible quotes for further
>articles since yours is so brief, your account and subsequent posts will
>be monitored and if the moderators feel your membership is inappropriate
>then your account will be disabled.
>
>Do not quote any comments in this topic or any others on the matter -
>allow those that knew him a place to grieve.
>
>I am one of the moderators - if you feel this is unfair, either PM or
>email me to discuss.

Thanks Martin, you speak for all of us here.

GWil

12-Nov-2014
12:07:08 PM

Condolences to all who knew him. From the sounds of it, during a descent, too.

Once people have had a chance to grieve, would anyone familiar with the location mind linking/commenting on some specifics? I've looped boulders for a descent myself, and if there's a way to learn from this tragedy, I'd be keen to take whatever steps I can to prevent similar from occurring to me/others.

Cams

12-Nov-2014
12:09:33 PM

Deepest condolences to everyone involved.

On 12/11/2014 Chuckufarli wrote:
>Deepest sympathy to the family. a little more information in this link:
>http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/2690736/mt-arapiles-death-man-falls-from-king-rat-gully
>climb/?cs=4122
>

I wonder if Simon Carter knows they're using a cropped version of his photo in this article. Maybe he has it for sale as a stock photo somewhere but there is no attribution and it is suspiciously cropped in from the left just right of his watermark. Looks like the exposure has been tweaked a bit, but all the shadows and perspective looks pretty close to me.

Simon's photo: http://www.onsight.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/gallery/favourites-2013/200-00x-018.jpg

News article: http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/2690736/mt-arapiles-death-man-falls-from-king-rat-gully-climb/?cs=4122#slide=3

gfdonc

12-Nov-2014
12:37:48 PM

No speculation here but I wanted to add my 2c worth.

Firstly, I think Mark Doman deserves a little more respect. He's a reporter who put an article together and considered it of relevance to create a post here. I heard the news report on the radio at 6pm last night (at which point it was not being reported as a fatality) and of course was checking Chockstone this morning for updates.
Mark has posted under a login using his own name and posted a link to the story under his byline. When queried about any link he responded promptly.
Yes we've seen activities by reporters on this (and other?) public forums that does not meet what we consider to be ethical standards but I don't see any evidence of that here. So a fair go is warranted.

Secondly, my sympathies to those involved and affected by the tragedy. Someone has lost their partner, their friend, their son through a tragic accident. They have my thoughts and the respect of (if I can speak on behalf of all) the members of this forum during their grieving process.

Thirdly, the climbing community is always thirsty for information about how this accident occurred so we can learn from it and be safer. In many other contexts this would be seen as morbid curiousity, but our concept of personal risk is so inherent to our participation that we have a direct and relevant interest. We rely on the discretion of those who know what happened to come forward with details when they can manage it. Mostly we have been blessed by their contributions, in time, but publication of any details is a generous gift, not an expectation.

Fourthly, and from a more practical perspective - from what details we have this was an accident during a descent in King Rat Gully. Without knowing more details I withhold any further speculation but of course I have a picture in my mind. The point I want to make is that at Arapiles there are dozens of descents that have been done hundreds if not thousands of times that have potential to cause accidents. My comment is, while we may have put up with some of these situations for decades with the assumption that they're 'par for the course', isn't it timely to reconsider them? The descent off the Organ Pipes, Yesterday Gully and of course King Rat come to mind.

There are 54 messages in this topic.