Don't stop rock climbing, Jessica McErlean's mother says
Jessica McErlean died after falling from cliff in Flatrock Friday
The family of Jessica McErlean, the young woman who fell to her death in Flatrock late last week, is still trying to piece together what happened to the experienced rock climber.
Sandra McErlean told CBC News Tuesday her daughter, 21, fell as she was rappelling down the cliff on The Beamer, an area used by numerous climbers and the location of a rock climbing festival in July.
McErlean doesn't believe negligence caused the passionate climber's death.
She said her daughter had just completed a climbing challenge and made it to the top of the cliff with other climbers cheering her on before she began rappelling back to the ground.
Friends in the area heard Jessica McErlean, who was wearing a harness and safety equipment, shout out something when she was alone on the rope, Sandra McErlean said.
Jessica McErlean fell off the rope and onto her right side, her helmet crashing as she hit the rocks below.
Don't stop climbing, mother says
Sandra McErlean waited anxiously at the helipad at the Health Sciences Centre Friday evening while a Universal helicopter tried to reach the girl who had broken bones.
The helicopter ended up turning around after it was unable to reach her.
After receiving a phone call from one of her daughter's friends indicating she'd be OK, McErlean thought Jessica would pull through.
But her worst fears came true when an ambulance driver informed her that Jessica had died of her injuries.
Since her death, Sandra McErlean said she, her husband and Jessica's brother Timothy have returned to the site where she fell. McErlean said her daughter's spirit is there, adding it's a comfort to her.
Jessica McErlean was well loved, her mother said, and began rock climbing at Wallnuts Climbing Centre when she was eight years old.
Sandra McErlean said the owner of Wallnuts in St. John's, Leo Van Ulden, has returned to the site several times, studying what could have happened.
Despite the tragic accident, McErlean said she doesn't want anyone to stop climbing and supports Wallnuts.
Jessica McErlean's funeral takes place Wednesday in St. John's.
With files from Todd O'Brien