Edlinger Died in Fall Down Stairs
Unlock this article and more benefits with 50% off.
Already have an Outside Account? Sign in
40% Off Outside+.
$4.99/month $2.99/month*
Get the one subscription to fuel all your adventures.
- Map your next adventure with our premium GPS apps: Gaia GPS Premium and Trailforks Pro.
- Read unlimited digital content from 15+ brands, including Outside Magazine, Triathlete, Ski, Trail Runner, and VeloNews.
- Watch 600+ hours of endurance challenges, cycling and skiing action, and travel documentaries.
- Learn from the pros with expert-led online courses.
*Outside memberships are billed annually. Print subscriptions available to U.S. residents only. You may cancel your membership at anytime, but no refunds will be issued for payments already made. Upon cancellation, you will have access to your membership through the end of your paid year. More Details
Iconic soloist and pioneering free climber Patrick Edlinger died, according to a report in Corriere dello Sport, as a result of falling down a flight of steep stairs in his house. The 52-year-old climber reportedly had mattresses placed at the base of the stair as a precaution, but fell and hit his head on the floor in between a gap in the pads.
Also according to reports, Edlinger struggled with alcohol, though he had resolved to beat the addiction, which he considered his greatest challenge. Whether drinking was involved in the accident is unknown.
According to a study by the Loughborough University of England, 1,000 people die each year falling down stairs in Britain alone, while more than 100,000 are injured.
Edlinger became internationally famous in the mid 1980s after a series of bold and dramatic free solos in France’s Verdon Gorge.