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Derek Hersey

1956 – 1993

British rock climber

Rock climber
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About Derek Hersey

Lived 1956 – 1993 (aged 36). Derek Hersey was a rock climber.

Derek Geoffrey Hersey (26 October 1956 – 28 May 1993) was a British rock climber who specialized in free soloing, and was for many years an active participant in the Boulder, Colorado climbing scene in the United States.

Climbing career Originally from Stretford, Greater Manchester, England, Hersey was based in Colorado, United States, and referred to Eldorado Canyon as his 'office', where he could be seen on any day of the week, if not on a road trip to Yosemite National Park or elsewhere. He also referred to Boulder, Colorado's Liquor Mart as 'The Shrine', and described his climbing-chalk bag as 'my bag of courage'. Hersey was featured in Climbing Magazine and posthumously in the film Front Range Freaks. He was tall and weighed . Few climbers have tried to repeat his achievements, which include many of Colorado's hardest traditional routes.

Hersey's efforts to push the limits of free soloing earned him the nickname "Dr. Death". Hersey was perhaps best known for his exploits in Eldorado Canyon, but his résumé included many other challenging ascents (and descents). He fell several hundred feet to his death. The search for Hersey's body was featured in a report on the CBS News programme 48 Hours.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Rock climber
Also known as
Derek Geoffrey Hersey

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Derek Hersey's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Derek Hersey?

British rock climber (1956-1993)

When was Derek Hersey born?

Derek Hersey was born on 26 October 1956.

When did Derek Hersey die?

Derek Hersey died on 28 May 1993 in Yosemite National Park.

What was Derek Hersey's occupation?

Derek Hersey was a rock climber.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Derek Hersey

· Wikidata: Q5262031

· DBpedia: Derek Hersey

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Derek Hersey. https://biography.guide/derek-hersey/

MLA: "Derek Hersey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/derek-hersey/.

Chicago: "Derek Hersey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/derek-hersey/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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