In a victim impact statement to the court, Araya’s partner spoke of her heartbreak after the incident, recalling how her “whole world imploded and has been in a state of disarray since”.
Araya’s mother said the death of her son, who had attended the climbing gym about 150 times, changed her family’s life forever.
“Losing a child is your worst nightmare; we are going through the unimaginable, the biggest hardship you could ever deal with as a parent and family,” she told the court.
“You never think something like this would ever happen to you, to us.
“The life we once thought we would have, so beautiful and blessed with an amazing future, was now never going to be.”
The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in St Peters.
Crestville, which operates the facility, told the court that after the incident it had permanently removed all autobelay systems from the centre and that it had undertaken a review of its inspection and maintenance procedures.
As a result of the incident, a new inspection and maintenance policy was also developed to document procedures, including daily inspections and external annual testing, it said.
In a statement to this masthead, a spokesman for Crestville said the company “acknowledges and accepts the District Court’s judgment”.
“First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event,” he said.
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“Safety is Crestville’s highest priority. Just as it did throughout the proceedings, Crestville recognises its failings in this matter, and remains committed to upholding the most stringent industry standards to ensure the wellbeing of every participant at the gym.
“We appreciate the ongoing support of our community and remain dedicated to providing a safe environment for all.”
District Court Judge Wendy Strathdee said Crestville and its directors, Michael Garben and Simon Stevens, had each expressed remorse and responsibility for the incident.
Crestville was fined $375,000 (reduced from $500,000 to account for its early guilty plea in 2024). Stevens and Garben were each fined $125,000 (a reduction from $150,000 accounting for their early guilty pleas).
Strathdee said the fines took into account the “serious risk” to people associated with Crestville’s “myriad failures and the consequences that flowed”, and would also act as deterrence.
“The offence was a very serious one,” she said in her ruling.
“Measures to reduce that risk were readily available but were not taken [and] the consequences of those deficiencies were, ultimately, catastrophic.”
Araya’s death occurred just days after the gym reopened following the end of NSW COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in 2021.
The facility, one of the largest climbing gyms in Sydney, has been operating since 1993.
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