Police say a rockfall may have led to a climber falling from a 40-metre cliff face to his death on Western Australia's south coast.
Experienced climber Tom Wiltshire, 29, was climbing with another man on Tuesday when he fell about 20 metres from rugged cliffs at West Cape Howe National Park, about 20 kilometres west of Albany.
Mr Wiltshire was at the popular site of towering granite cliffs above the Southern Ocean with a group of climbers from Perth.
Great Southern Police District Acting Superintendent Paul McMurtrie said just before 5pm the pair were nearing the top of a 40-metre climb when disaster struck.
"The pair have were ascending, about 20m from the top when … it appears a rockfall has caused one of the climbers to fall to his death," he said.
"Early indication is the rockfall has impacted their gear and that's caused the climber to fall."
Acting Superintendent McMurtrie said the other climber received injuries and was treated at Albany Hospital.
He said Mr Wiltshire's partner was part of a group of eight who had come to the area to climb the cliffs and witnessed the incident.
"The young man's partner was also part of the group and clearly, obviously distressed," he said.
Acting Superintendent McMurtirie said poor conditions prevented a recovery mission last night but a specialised abseil rescue crew were attempting to retrieve Mr Wiltshire's body on Wednesday morning.
Cliffs popular with climbers
The area, the most southerly point of WA, has become "a mecca" for rock climbers and slack liners providing some of the state's best climbing.
Climber Jeremy Shepherd said the cliffs at West Cape Howe were among the best climbing routes in the state.
"You get the Southern Ocean smashing into the rock face. The walls are super high," he said.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
