Rock climbers mourn death of Jessica McErlean

A young woman killed in a tragic climbing accident in Flatrock Friday afternoon will be laid to rest this week.

Jessica McErlean, 21, died after she fell over a cliff in a popular rock climbing spot on a rocky jut known locally as The Beamer in Flatrock, a town 15 minutes outside of St. John's.

McErlean was a student at Memorial University. 

Wallnuts Climbing Centre closed on Monday as a show of respect for McErlean who was known in the climbing community.

Police said emergency crews were called to the scene around suppertime after a group of rock climbers reported McErlean fell and was seriously injured.

Members of the Torbay Volunteer Fire Department and the St. John's Regional Fire Department high angle rescue team responded as well as paramedics with Eastern Health .

A Universal helicopter flew to the area, but could not reach McErlean on the rocks below the cliff.

Eastern Health's mobile crisis team and the Salvation Army Critical Incident Stress Debrief Team arrived at the scene Friday evening to help grieving friends of the young woman.

McErlean's funeral will take place on Wednesday in St. John's.