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Ground fall at St Peters monday night 20-Aug-2014 At 8:00:33 PM sbm

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Yep it was me. Here's the account I wrote.

"On monday night we were lead climbing in the new area of St Peters. The accident happened on probably my 4th or 5th climb for the night. I hadn't actually fallen off yet climbing at all that night and hadn't been at my limit. At the point I fell off I was insecure but trying hard, and it wasn't really expected - I hadn't yelled out "watch me" to the belayer.

I fell off about halfway up, a little above the last draw. I think they said 10-12m in the report but I think it was more like 8m. Basically my hands slipped off and I just kept going all the way. The route was overhanging so I landed about 2m away from the wall. I think there was a little friction in the system but it was pretty much a free fall.

I landed on my butt sitting down and rolled back flat on my back. I've been practising falling properly a lot, bouldering on the 45 degree wall at the Ledge (which has very stiff matting), and I actually think this helped heaps, I landed really well instinctively, and I didn't really hit my head.

Straight away I realised I could still feel everything and wiggle my toes etc, and I actually managed to get my shoes and harness off before curling up on the floor groaning at bit, before realising my neck and back hurt and I should probably lie down flat and wait.

They called the ambulance and I got the full ride to hospital with a neck brace and scoop stretcher. I had a little pain in my lower back and my neck but once I was immobilised I was fine. There was no real pain when they felt around my spine.

I got xrays at the hospital and basically it turns out I have whiplash in my neck and a bit of a sore back but that's it. They let me out at about 1am and honestly at that point the most painful thing by far was the needle hole where they'd taken a blood test.

I'm back at work today, I feel really sore, like after a huge day or mega workout, but I'm ok.

As for the belayer - well basically [name] lost control of the rope. They didn't have burns so I think the rope might have got ripped out of their hands, if it was held in a bad/lazy non-locked-off position. [more personal stuff]"

More info: Rope was a 10mm tendon master on the fuzzy side (my red rope). Belay device was ATC guide style copy from Mad Rock.