INDEX — The Sky Valley volunteer firefighter who died while climbing at Index Town Wall has been identified.

Around 6 p.m. Friday, crews responded to a report of a climber who fell 100 feet at Upper Town Wall, a popular rock climbing site. Sky Valley Fire Chief Eric Andrews said another witnessed the fall and reported it.

Andrews said the climber had a pulse but was unconscious and appeared to have severe injuries when medics arrived. Despite attempts to stabilize him, he died at the scene.

The deceased was identified as Michal Rynkiewicz. He was 33. The official cause of death was blunt force injuries, according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Authorities believe a “failure of equipment” caused the fall, Andrews said.

On Thursday, Sky Valley Fire Assistant Chief Ernie Walters said firefighters get “a couple calls a year” about climbing accidents in the area, but fatalities are rare.

Rynkiewicz was an avid mountain climber along with his wife, Sara Price, according to social media.

“The last six months Michal made it clear to say everyday how happy and grateful he was,” Price wrote in a public post on Instagram. “I’m glad last year was the best year of his life.”

He died nearly three weeks after their wedding.

As of Thursday, an online fundraiser had raised over $46,000, with many friends from the climbing community chipping in.

“If you knew Michal, you knew how contagious his excitement for life was,” the fundraiser reads. “He lifted up everyone who crossed his path.”

The fundraiser’s organizer, Alexa Cathcart, also noted he was “an accomplished route developer, having put up hundreds of routes.” Rynkiewicz was working toward getting his EMT certification and becoming a firefighter, according to the fundraiser.

He had been volunteering at Sky Valley Fire for about two months, Walters said.

The fundraiser noted if people cannot donate, they should climb something in Rynkiewicz’s honor.

Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.