Date of Event: 5/1/2004
Canyon involved: Barranco de Fecha or Corga da Fecha
Region: Orense, Lobios
Country: Spain
Submitted by: Lily Miquel
Source: self-report
Injuries: Psychological
Causes: Inadequate equipment, rappel error

Description of Event:

My husband and I descended this canyon when we were beginners. It wasn’t clear what gear to carry on oneself. There is one rappel called El Colector (The Collector). There is a very vertical, fixed handline there to avoid rappelling in the flow. We did not have tethers to connect to the line. Hence, we were unable to reach the safe anchor. We decided to rappel directly down the waterfall. This was not a good idea. There was too much water. I descended first with my pack attached to my harness between my legs (caving style). In this way I could avoid the flow of the water but just in the first meters of the waterfall. I started with one leg on each wall just below the anchor. Slowly the walls widened. I am 1.54 meters tall. Eventually I could no longer span between the two walls, and slipped into the full force of the waterfall. On reaching the bottom I detached from the rope and stood on a rock 2 metres in front of the waterfall. My pack was being dragged with the flow, threatening to pull me into the water and over the next drop. By the time I realized this, it was too late. I was able to sit on the rock with the pack downstream, pulling me. I was trapped. I didn’t have my knife to cut free the pack. I had to calm myself and concentrate. I had the rope in my hand but I was no longer attached to it with my rappel device. These were the worst moments in my life. I was thinking “I have to fight, this could NOT be my last moment…” I tried to pull the pack to raise it. However, it was trapped between rocks. Finally, I was able to free the pack. I managed to raise it. I attached my rappel device and finished the rappel. My legs were shaking. Ah. And after this rappel we lost another pack on a pool. I had to take off my neoprene and dive to rescue it.

Analysis: It is critical to be prepared with the proper equipment. It is important to know the risks of each descent and techniques needed to mitigate those risks. Always carry a standard kit, including a tether, knife, flotation aid, etc. Never hang the pack below you in high flow. If you have to enter the flow; carry the pack over one shoulder, throw the pack or send it on a zip line.