Professional Climber From New Hampshire Dies After Fatal Fall Inside Manchester Indoor Gym

MANCHESTER, NH — A man has died from a high-elevation fall at an indoor climbing gym on Commercial Street on Tuesday.

Manchester Fire and AMR responded to Vertical Dreams at 250 Commercial St. for a climber who had fallen and was seriously injured.

When responders arrived, they found a man who had been climbing inside the indoor climbing gym who sources confirm fell 40 to 50 feet to the floor with no safety gear stopping the fall.

A trauma alert was immediately requested for the Elliot Hospital, and crews transported the man with life-threatening injuries. The climber succumbed to his injuries.

Manchester Police Lt. Patrick Houghton confirmed the man fell in the gym from a height of 50 to 60 feet. Police were notified of the incident and responded to the scene with OSHA. Houghton said that at this time, it appears to be a tragic accident, and nothing appears to be suspicious.

Several online posts on Facebook and climbing forums have identified the man as Lee Hansche, 46, of Allenstown, a well-known and experienced climber.

The Vertical Dreams website describes itself as an indoor climbing gym.

"Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, Vertical Dreams offers something for everyone from New Hampshire’s tallest climbing wall to top roping, lead climbing, bouldering, and routes for all abilities. Vertical Dreams is the most versatile and welcoming climbing experience in the area.”

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.”

James Lally of the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an inspection of Vertical Dreams Inc. "to determine whether or not there were any violations of workplace safety standards in connection with this incident." He said OSHA would not discuss specifics of any ongoing inspections. It could take up to six months to complete the investigation, although "it's too early to estimate a completion date for this inspection."

If additional information becomes available, Patch.com will provide updates. Neither Vertical Dreams did not respond to an email request seeking comment.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news