Obituary: Derek Hersey

Monday 31 May 1993 23:02 BST

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Derek Hersey, climber, died Yosemite National Park 29 May, aged 39. Known as the 'human fly' because of his ability to scale cliffs without ropes or other devices, he fell to his death while trying to climb one of the toughest rock faces in the US. Started climbing aged 13. Claimed poverty drew him to do it free-solo, as he had no money for equipment. British- born, he emigrated to the US in 1983 and settled in Boulder, Colorado, where he started his own rock-climbing school and guided-tour business.

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