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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Guardian staff

Man dies after falling 13 metres at Sydney indoor rock climbing gym

generic image of rock climbing wall
A man has died after falling at a rock climbing gym in the Sydney suburb of St Peters. Photograph: Shaun Wang/Getty Images/EyeEm

New South Wales police are investigating after a man fell 13 metres to his death while climbing a wall at an indoor climbing gym in Sydney.

Emergency services were called to Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters, in the city’s inner west, before midday on Wednesday after reports a man had fallen.

Paramedics treated the man for head and chest injuries but he could not be saved.

Police established a crime scene and will investigate the circumstances around the fall. A spokesperson said a report would be prepared for the state’s coroner.

The NSW workplace safety regulator was notified and attended the venue.

“SafeWork NSW is investigating an incident where a man suffered fatal injuries after falling about 13 metres while indoor rock climbing at St Peters,” a spokesperson said. “Inquiries are ongoing.”

The gym posted on its social media accounts it would be closed for the remainder of Wednesday and likely Thursday.

The gym has been operating for 28 years and reportedly has 3,700 square metres of climbing walls, 50-degree overhangs and 25-metre routes.

The man’s death comes just two days after the gym was allowed to reopen after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in NSW.

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