Alex Honnold Hailed A Hero After Saving Injured El Capitan Climber

“Free Solo” star Alex Honnold is being hailed a hero for his vital role in saving a world-renowned climber who took a nasty fall on Yosemite’s deadly El Capitan on Sunday. The New York Post reports 33 year old Emily Harrington “took a bad fall” during her latest attempt on the 3,200ft granite wall. Harrington described the fall like this:

“I had an accident yesterday on El Cap. I’m banged up but gonna be ok thankfully. Not much to say except I took a bad fall and pin balled a bit then somehow hit the rope with my neck.”

Her climbing partners feared she suffered serious spinal injuries. Her boyfriend described Alex Honnold’s presence during the incident as “the best case scenario of the worst case scenario.” Honnold calmly maintained spinal immobilization on the wall, prepped for an evac, and kept Emily busy telling stories and keeping her talking throughout. Harrington is recovering in the hospital with facial injuries and a severe rope burn across her neck.

Cheers to Alex for being the right person in the right place at the right time. Couldn’t imagine a better person on the planet to keep calm and do what needs to be done in a situation like this. Hats off.

Here is the text from an instagram post Emily’s boyfriend, Adrian Ballinger:

“Most important to this insty – Emilya Harrington is going to be ok! ❤️🙏 Two mornings ago was the scene we all dread. The most important person in my world crumpled on a ledge after a big fall in below freezing temperatures with real injuries and a lot of reasons to suspect spinal injury. But looking back it was also the best case scenario of the worst case scenario – Alex Honnold with Em calmly maintaining spinal immobilization on the wall, getting things ready for an evac, and telling stories and keeping her talking throughout. Clear and consistent comms and planning by Jon Glassberg and Sanni McCandless from the ground. Tara Kerzhner keeping me calm as we ran from the other side of the mountain and up the wall to be first on scene to get Em warm and stabilized. YOSAR (Yosemite Search and Rescue) on scene within 90 minutes with a big crew and the necessary equipment to get her off the wall and to the road. Competent paramedics and Trauma 1 Center docs to give the good drugs and eventually to clear Em of spinal injury despite some gnarly wounds. The outpouring of help and support from friends at home and in Yosemite to clean up our chaos from plans very rapidly changed. And finally, Em herself and her warrior mentality. She dealt with the pain, helped where she could, and stayed positive throughout. It’s gonna take a bit of time, but Em and her blood stained 🦖 earrings and new neck tattoo will be back in the vertical world soon.”