The death of Mohsen al-Najjar, known as the ‘Spider-Man of Yemen’ for his daring free-solo climbs, has thrown the spotlight on the safety standards of British mountaineering expeditions abroad. Al-Najjar, 34, fell to his death while attempting to scale the rim of an active volcano in the Danakil Depression, Ethiopia, as part of a UK-led climbing group. The tragedy has raised questions about the duty of care owed to local guides and the adequacy of risk assessments in extreme environments.
Al-Najjar, a father of three from Sana’a, had survived a civil war and used climbing to support his family. He had been hired by Everest Expeditions Ltd, a British company based in Cumbria, to assist a team of six UK climbers. The group was tackling Erta Ale, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, when a sudden rockfall sent al-Najjar plunging 200 metres into the lava lake below. Rescuers say no remains could be recovered.
The UK government has issued a statement expressing condolences, but British mountaineering organisations are facing calls to review their protocols. The British Mountaineering Council has said it will examine the incident, but critics argue that the use of local guides in high-risk scenarios has long been under-regulated. ‘These men are treated as disposable,’ said Dr. Helen Grant, a lecturer in adventure tourism at the University of Cumbria. ‘They are paid a fraction of what a UK guide would earn, yet they are often expected to carry out the most dangerous tasks.’
Al-Najjar’s family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover funeral costs, but they say they want answers. ‘Mohsen was a hero in Yemen. He climbed to forget the war,’ said his brother, Ahmed. ‘He trusted the British team. They told him it was safe. Now we have nothing.’
The climbing industry in the UK is worth an estimated £4.5 billion a year, and expeditions to remote volcanoes are marketed as luxury adventures costing upwards of £15,000 per person. But for guides in countries like Yemen, Ethiopia, and Pakistan, the economic reality is stark. According to the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, fewer than 30 per cent of local guides on high-risk expeditions have formal insurance or employment contracts.
‘We hear a lot about the heroism of western climbers, but these are working men risking their lives for a daily wage,’ said Sarah Jenkins, Economy & Labour Reporter. ‘This tragedy is a reminder that the cost of adventure is often paid in the coin of the global south.’
Everest Expeditions Ltd has declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation. But the company’s website still advertises the Danakil trip as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime challenge’ with ‘world-class safety standards’.
For the people of Sana’a, the loss is personal. Al-Najjar had become a symbol of resilience in a country ravaged by conflict. ‘He climbed to show that Yemenis are not just victims,’ said his friend, Ali. ‘Now he is gone because of a business that put profit before life.’
The UK government has yet to announce any formal inquiry, but Labour MP for Sheffield Central, Paul Blomfield, has tabled a parliamentary question on the regulation of adventure travel companies. ‘We cannot allow British firms to operate with impunity abroad,’ he said. ‘These are British-led expeditions, and British standards should follow them wherever they go.’
For al-Najjar’s children, the fight for justice is just beginning. They are left with a GoFundMe page, a mountain of debt, and a father’s legend that will not fade.
