A climber fell from an estimated height of 15 meters in a climbing accident in Bærum and was seriously injured, according to major media reports. The accident was caused by a rock that cut the climbing rope, Odd Magne Øgreid, leader of the safety committee of the Norwegian Climbing Federation, told NRK Stor-Oslo. According to NRK Stor-Oslo, Øgreid described the incident as very rare and noted that the climbing rope is the lifeline of the safety system. The injured climber, described as very experienced, is out of danger, police attorney Elias Settevik told NRK Stor-Oslo. Two other people were slightly injured in the accident. The climbing area Nedre Sydstup on Kolsås in Bærum is one of the most popular climbing areas in the Oslo region, Øgreid said. According to NRK Stor-Oslo, Emil Ohlsson, daily leader of Kolsås Climbing Club, stated that loose rock is always a risk when climbing outdoors and that it is not practice to cordon off areas after accidents.
In Ålesund, a rock weighing about 500 kg fell onto a staircase at a residential house on Lerstad, landing about 20 cm from a house wall, major media reported. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority has received a report about the rockfall and will consider whether to follow up with an inspection, section leader Kjersti Marie Gjerd told NRK Møre og Romsdal. In Porsgrunn, a rockfall on Herøyavegen hit a pedestrian and bicycle path, and a rock weighing an estimated couple of tons blocked the road, operations leader Ståle Fuglaas told NRK Nyheter. According to NRK Nyheter, Fuglaas said that based on what has been uncovered, riksvei 36 towards Porsgrunn is closed, and the pedestrian and bicycle path is closed to all traffic. It cannot be ruled out that there is a risk of further rockfalls in Porsgrunn, Fuglaas added. In Holmestrand, a rockfall occurred on a hiking trail between Olav Duuns vei and Fjordveien, but no one was injured, according to major media reports.
It is very rare.
A rockfall occurred near Giljajuvet in Rogaland, and a person was possibly hit by rock, according to multiple reports. A patient is being flown to Stavanger University Hospital after the rockfall, and the patient is conscious, operations leader Jostein Jaarvik Reiestad told NRK Rogaland. According to NRK Rogaland, Reiestad said the rockfall did not affect the main road, but manual traffic direction is in place due to the rescue operation. In Tvedalen, a person was hit by a rock after a rockfall and received life-saving first aid before being taken to hospital, major media reported. The rockfall in Tvedalen was large, and an area has been cordoned off, incident commander Terje Lunden said. In Larvik, a work accident involving a rockfall occurred, and police officers are performing life-saving first aid on a person who was hit by a rock, according to multiple reports. In northern Trøndelag, a man has fallen into a deep gorge and is stuck under a rock; he is awake and a rescue helicopter is on the way, the Trøndelag police district reported.
The exact condition of the injured climber in Bærum remains unclear, as police have not yet spoken to him due to his health condition, Settevik said. The cause of the rockfall near Giljajuvet is unknown. The conditions of the person hit by rock in Tvedalen, the person in the work accident in Larvik, and the man stuck under a rock in Trøndelag have not been disclosed.
The rock hit the climbing rope in such a way that it was cut off.
The climbing rope is the lifeline of the safety system. It goes without saying that if you cut it, you are facing a very serious accident.
The case is still being investigated, and we are working to clarify the course of events. Witnesses to the incident have been interviewed, but the police have not yet spoken to the injured person due to his health condition.
It has been climbed there for many decades. It is a very popular place to climb on such nice excursion days as we had this Easter with good weather.
People should be aware that if you climb out on the mountain, there may be loose rock there.
There will always be loose rock when climbing outdoors, that is a basic fact. You can never protect yourself one hundred percent against it. And there are places that are perhaps more exposed than others.
It is terribly sad for everyone involved.
It is an established climbing area. Loose rock will always be there when climbing outdoors. It is not practice to cordon off climbing areas after accidents or loose rock.
A patient is now being flown to Stavanger University Hospital. The patient is conscious.
The rockfall has not affected the main road, but there is manual traffic direction in connection with the operation.
Based on what has been uncovered at the scene, riksvei 36 towards Porsgrunn is closed, and the pedestrian and bicycle path is closed to all traffic.
We will assess whether it is relevant to follow up with an inspection.