A bolt failure at a climbing anchor most probably contributed to the fatal accident that claimed the life of Daniel Fransson in Żurrieq, according to a new safety advisory issued by ClimbMT.The climbing organisation inspected the route involved, known as Plunder, following the accident and said it had identified a failure involving a large-eye stainless-steel belay bolt at the first belay.Fransson, a 55-year-old Swiss national and senior executive at Schlatter Industries AG, died while climbing in the Wied Fulija area earlier this month. A woman involved in the incident was rescued with injuries.ClimbMT stressed that the precise cause of the bolt failure has not yet been established and that the incident remains subject to investigation. It has now contacted the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) to seek an independent examination of the failed hardware.The route had been completely rebolted using 316 stainless steel in 2014, making the failure significant beyond Malta, according to ClimbMT, particularly for climbing communities using coastal routes. Corrosion and stress-corrosion cracking can severely weaken stainless-steel anchors in marine environments, sometimes without visible warning signs, the organisation said.ClimbMT will now begin identifying and prioritising routes which could contain potentially affected bolts, starting with sea cliffs and other areas heavily exposed to salt spray, humidity and marine conditions. It is also coordinating with local route equippers and the Malta Rock Climbing Club over further action.In the meantime, climbers are being urged to exercise heightened caution around fixed hardware, particularly 316/A4 stainless-steel bolts on sea cliffs. ClimbMT warned that even anchors which appear undamaged may not necessarily be structurally sound.“Never rely on a single bolt as your only protection,” the organisation warned, saying belay anchors should be properly backed up using at least two points of protection.ClimbMT said further route-specific warnings or temporary restrictions will be announced as more information becomes available.•