[marcusrussi]

I want to know if this guy was leading or on a toprope. If it was a lead climb he had no business doing it, you have to already be a skilled ice climber to lead a pitch of ice since the consequences of a fall are much higher than on toprope. If this was a toproped climb then the guy is exaggerating.

[snowwrestler]

On a tall climb, stretch and a bit of slack are enough to drop 5-6 feet if you fall on top rope.

And it's not very nice to say someone is exaggerating their emotional state. :-) It's certainly possible for people to get very scared the first time they climb 40 feet up, even on top rope.