He said O.K. and when I jumped off, I went crashing down to the ground-HARD. I really was quite shocked, and couldn't understand what happened. Without even getting up--- I looked up at him and asked what happened. He replied, " it burnt my hands". The guy completely let go of the rope!!!!?
That is scary. Glad you are here to tell the tale.
My best friend and first climbing partner (Bob) moved to Colorado and had a visit from a mutual friend of ours who shall remain nameless. There were climbing somewhere near Ft Collins, when Bob hucked off and took what should have been a 10 foot lead fall. His inexperienced belayer had his brake hand off the rope, and Bob ended up taking a 40-footer. When he stopped falling, he was about 6 feet off the ground and eye-to-eye with his belayer, who had grabbed the lead-strand with both hands to arrest the fall.
The belayer, whom I have roped up with many times since, has never made that mistake again. He got a second chance because we're all very close friends. I suspect in a different situation or had the outcome involved injury, he'd have never climbed again.
If there is a lesson here it is unclear. I'd say even when you think you know someone well, you have to pay attention to their skill level. Also, folks do learn lessons the hard way and sometimes deserve another chance, after some proper training
Be careful out there!