Yemeni social media adventurer Al-Qa’qa bin Antar al-Absi, known online as “Yemen’s Spider-Man,” has died after falling inside a volcanic crater while attempting one of his high-risk climbing stunts without safety equipment.
The 30-year-old climber fell at Haradhat Damt, a volcanic crater in Yemen’s southern Dhale province, a site known for its steep rock walls and hot sulphuric waters. Yemen’s Civil Defence said rescue and diving teams recovered his body after a difficult operation complicated by the crater’s rugged terrain and high temperatures.
Arabic outlets reported that Al-Absi fell on Friday and that his body was retrieved on Saturday after hours of searching. Local reports said the rescue was carried out by a civil defence diving team, with one rescuer descending into the crater to recover the body.
Al-Absi had built a following on social media through videos showing him climbing cliffs, crater walls and rugged mountain terrain, often without ropes or protective gear. Footage circulated after his death appeared to show the moment he lost his grip while scaling a rock face, though some outlets treated the video cautiously as part of their verification coverage.
His death sparked a wave of tributes and criticism online, with supporters describing him as a fearless young Yemeni who turned danger into viral fame, while others said the tragedy highlighted the risks of extreme stunts performed for social media attention in unsafe conditions.
Civil Defence authorities urged climbers and adventure seekers to follow basic safety procedures and use proper protective equipment to prevent similar incidents.