Alex Honnold Has Panic Attack At Top Of Step Ladder
Alex Honnold experienced a panic attack while at the top of a step ladder, reflecting on the dangers of his ascent. He described the overwhelming fear he felt and the realization of his wife's concerns about his safety. The incident, which was streamed live to millions, served as a wake-up call for the renowned rock climber.
- ▪Alex Honnold had a panic attack at the top of a step ladder.
- ▪He was nearly a foot and a half off the ground without safety equipment.
- ▪Honnold expressed regret that the incident was streamed live to 15 million viewers.
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| Original publisher | The Onion |
| Canonical URL | https://theonion.com/alex-honnold-has-panic-attack-at-top-of-step-ladder/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 20 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-20T13:05:02.450Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-20T13:05:02.450Z |
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News Alex Honnold Has Panic Attack At Top Of Step Ladder Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Bluesky Share on LinkedIn Share on SMS Share on WhatsApp Email this Page Published: May 20, 2026 LAS VEGAS—His body trembling as he gripped the support bar for dear life, rock climber Alex Honnold reportedly had a panic attack this week at the top of a step ladder. “Sometimes, when you get all the way up there and you’re a foot—nearly a foot and a half—off the ground, you start to lose perspective on your own existence and just panic at mankind’s hubris,” said Hannold, reflecting on how dangerous it was to scale the 16-inch folding stool without a harness, rope, or medical team on standby.
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