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Climber Dies on El Cap

Brad Parker died in a fall on Saturday, August 16, while climbing Matthes Crest in Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, California.

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El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California. On Sunday, June 2, a fatal accident occurred on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. The National Park Service reports that Felix Joseph Kiernan of London, England, was struck by a rock while climbing roughly 600 feet up the East Buttress of El Cap. The rock was reportedly one-foot by two-feet and traveled approximately 150 feet before before hitting Kiernan. The accident occurred at about 2 p.m on Sunday. A team of climbers below called in the accident via cell phone and Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) began climbing the route to reach the the scene of the accident. YOSAR members reportedly reached Kiernan at 4 p.m. where he was pronounced dead. The rescuers then employed the use of helicopters to airlift him to the valley floor. Kiernan was 28-years-old.