An experienced climber and longtime employee of the Vertical Dreams climbing gym in Manchester, N.H., died last Tuesday after falling from a high elevation within the facility.
According to Patch.com, police were called to Vertical Dreams to attend to a climber who had fallen and was seriously injured. When first responders arrived, they found Lee Hansche, 46, of Allenstown, a well-known and experienced climber, had fallen to the floor with no safety gear.
Hansche was transported to Elliot Hospital where he died from his injuries.
Manchester Police confirmed Hansche fell in the gym from a height of 50 to 60 feet.
The U.S. Department of Labor has confirmed that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an inspection of Vertical Dream Inc. "to determine whether or not there were any violations of workplace safety standards in connection with this incident."
People lauded Hansche as a committed climber and leader within the sport.
In a post on Reddit, someone wrote, "Lee Hansche was a steward of the climbing community. He's bolted and maintained 100s of routes. He has provided a rich history of mountain projects. His passion and humor in the sport were contagious, and anyone who has met him knows it.
