Man trapped on cliff face for 4 hours
Key points: At 3:28 pm on the 16th, the Tonghai Road Fire Station of the Longkou Fire Brigade received an emergency call from a man who said he was stuck mid-air while abseiling on Mount Xiaomiao at Yujia Kou in Longkou City because his rope was too short.
In the movie Crazy Stone, the scene where notorious thief Mac uses very professional techniques to steal jade by dangling from the ceiling beam on a rope—but ends up stuck in mid-air because the rope he bought wasn’t long enough—had audiences in stitches. However, on the afternoon of the 16th, an outdoor sports enthusiast in Longkou City actually encountered this situation in real life. He had planned to buy a 50-meter rope to go abseiling off a cliff, but the rope turned out to be much shorter than expected. The man ended up suspended 15 meters in the air, suffering for a full 4 hours.
Abseiling mishap leaves man stuck 15m up; calls for help to save himself
At 3:28 pm on the 16th, the Tonghai Road Fire Station of the Longkou Fire Brigade received an emergency call from a man who said he was stuck mid-air while abseiling on Mount Xiaomiao at Yujia Kou in Longkou City because his rope was too short. The man said he was unable to climb back up the rope to the top of the cliff, nor could he descend to the base, and requested rescue. Upon receiving the plea, rescuers immediately rushed to the scene with mountaineering and rescue gear.
It is reported that Mount Xiaomiao is about 50–60 meters high. Before even reaching the foot of the mountain, rescuers could see a rope hanging down the steep side of the mountain from afar. Although the stranded man had descended more than two-thirds of the mountain’s total height, he was still about 15 meters above the ground.
Mountain wind adds to trouble; rescue rope and victim’s rope become tangled
According to the stranded man’s companion, they began abseiling from the top of the cliff around 2 pm and had been hanging in mid-air for a long time. Based on the on-site situation, the on-site commander of the Longkou Fire Brigade decided to lead the rescue team up to the mountain top and lower a rope from the cliff edge to help the man descend to the ground.
The mountain path was steep. Around 4 pm, rescuers reached the mountaintop and arrived at the cliff edge. They dropped another thick rope along the same line where the stranded man had been hanging. Then, Li Zhenpeng, the squad leader with rich rescue experience, climbed down the cliff along the rope to help the man get free. But when the rescuer descended to within 10 meters of the stranded man, something unexpected happened. Due to the strong mountain winds, the two ropes got twisted together and knotted tightly, preventing Li Zhenpeng from descending further to reach the intended spot.
The rope tying the man had been swinging back and forth all afternoon, with some parts nearly worn through by the rocks. The man’s strength was fading, the wind was getting stronger, and light snowflakes began to fall. If this dragged on, the man might get numb from the cold, making the rescue even more difficult. What could be done?
Rescue shouted instructions; man discards original rope to attach to rescue rope
Rescuers learned from the man’s companion that the stranded man had abseiled many times before and had some experience with mountaineering and rope securing. So, the commander instructed Li Zhenpeng, who was closest to the man, to talk him through abandoning his own rope, unclipping the carabiner attached to it, and instead securing it to Li Zhenpeng’s rope. Normally, this process would take just five or six minutes. But with the increasing wind, and no footholds beneath him, the man was already physically exhausted—making this task very challenging.
Li Zhenpeng guided the man via shouts on how to tie the ropes. The man first wrapped the rescue rope lowered to him around his body twice to secure himself, then carefully unclipped his carabiner and attached it to Li Zhenpeng’s rope. After about 20 minutes, the rope was finally secured, and the man was utterly exhausted. The rescuers at the cliff top worked together to slowly lower the man down to the base of the cliff. When he was about five or six meters from the bottom, the man managed to control his descent and landed on solid ground. By then, it was around 7:30 pm—over two hours into the rescue and more than four hours since he had first been stuck in mid-air.
Didn’t bring professional static rope
Bought regular rope and went abseiling anyway
According to the man, surnamed Tian, he is in his twenties and from Huangcheng, Longkou. He is an outdoor sports enthusiast who often takes part in activities with other around 30–40 hobbyists. That day, the others had organized a trip to Luoshan Mountain, but he didn’t go for some reason, so he invited a companion to hike Mount Xiaomiao in Xiadingjia Town. Before the climb, they did some preparations and decided to try abseiling upon arriving in town. That’s when they realized they hadn’t brought a static rope, so they went to buy one in the town.
Mr. Tian also felt that his decision to go abseiling was overly hasty. When buying the rope, he couldn’t find a specialized outdoor store, so he went to a labor protection supplies shop. He asked the shop owner if they had a 50-meter rope, and the owner handed him one. He asked whether it could be used for climbing Mount Xiaomiao, and the owner said yes. There was no length marked on the rope—it was just a regular long rope—and Mr. Tian took it straight to try abseiling. He said that while stuck, he tried to use his arm strength to climb back up the rope to the top, but failed after several attempts and only exhausted himself further—which led to him making the distress call.
Doing abseiling and other extreme sports
Should have professionals present
Reporters learned that abseiling is an outdoor leisure activity that has only emerged in recent years. It originated from mountain exploration rappelling protection techniques, and is also commonly used in disaster relief, transport, and military raids. Later, it evolved into an extreme outdoor sport similar to rock climbing and bungee jumping. Generally, abseiling is carried out under the guidance and protection of instructors, using the natural elevation of scenic spots. Participants descend down cliffs via ropes, controlling their own speed and landing point to reach the ground. Though it doesn’t require highly professional skills, participants must overcome fear of heights and speed and have the determination to press forward until the end. A group of wilderness enthusiasts head for cliffs and steep walls just to build courage and enjoy the thrill.
Firefighters remind outdoor enthusiasts that extreme sports must be carried out in qualified venues with professional guidance, and those in danger should call for help as soon as possible. Additionally, firefighters advise that although hiking is a great activity, the weather becomes more unpredictable in winter. Outdoor adventurers should check the weather forecast before heading out and avoid going out in windy or snowy/rainy conditions—it’s best to postpone the activity or take emergency precautions. Otherwise, it's easy to get lost in snowstorms. Also, it’s important to do proper warm-ups and dress warmly before outdoor activities to avoid unexpected issues during exercise.