A soldier is killed in a zipline accident in Mazraet el-Chouf

His name was Jad Thebian, he was in his thirties and had a passion for dangerous sports that was to cost him his life. On May 9, while practicing ziplining in his home village, Mazraet el-Chouf, on a particularly steep site overlooking the Bisri Valley, the young man fell to his death. The drama has shone the spotlight on an activity that is increasingly popular in Lebanon, but which is not yet regulated.

Asked about the drama by L’Orient-Le Jour, Yéhia Abou Karroum, president of the municipal council of Mazraet el-Chouf, indicates that the zip line “is managed by the owner of a private club frequented by young people from the area”. The owner is currently detained by the military police, the victim being a staff sergeant in the Lebanese army. Mr. Abou Karroum affirms that the investigation is underway to determine the causes of the accident, while ensuring that “the cables are still intact”. However, he points out that “the victim was alone at the time of the tragedy, so there are no witnesses to tell what happened”. “The police have been investigating on site since the accident and have already visited the place on more than one occasion,” he continues.

The club in question did not have a license, according to the president of the municipal council, who regrets that “this activity is not regulated at an official level”. “There are no permits for ziplines in Lebanon, nor any standards to be met,” he says. I would like this drama to open the debate around this kind of sport. I urge relevant Ministries, including Youth and Sports and Tourism, to put in place a mechanism for obtaining permits and standards to be met. »

A source from the Civil Defense team who inspected the place following the accident confirmed to us that the club in question “had no license and obviously did not respect the least standards of public safety”. “On site, we saw neither the cables nor the pulley, but it is not known if they were seized by the military police as part of the investigation”, continues this source.

André Béchara, speleologist and expert in outdoor activities, confirms that such activities are not subject to standards in Lebanon. But there are international standards that must be respected, particularly with regard to the quality of the cables, the mooring and the equipment, depending on the inclination and therefore the speed of the zip line. “The most important safety standard remains that relating to the training of the person in charge of operating the zip line or of the person using it,” he continues. It is necessary to be able to rescue a person if he is blocked, or that the user himself knows how to get out of trouble in such a case. »

According to the expert, who cannot speculate on the causes of this drama, the accidents are caused either because of defective equipment which would have failed, which remains rare according to him, or as a result of human error.

The attractiveness of the region and high-risk sports

Jad Thebian was far from a beginner in this sport, which he obviously enjoyed very much. On social networks, we find his photos practicing this sport and others. “He was a young man who was very popular in the village, loved by everyone, who was there when we needed him,” says Yéhia Abou Karroum, visibly moved. His father had died, he lived with his mother and two sisters. His death is a real tragedy for his family. »

According to Mr. Abou Karroum, Jad was not the only one to frequent this club. “Since the controversy around the Bisri dam and the campaign for the preservation of this valley (which succeeded in preventing the construction of this project, editor’s note), our region is very popular. And affordable sports, like zip-lining or rock climbing, have become escape routes for young people suffering from the crisis. »

In any case, the municipality no longer intends to take any risks. “We have decided to ban dangerous sports until standards are imposed by the state,” he says, noting that the region has no other zip lines.