A fall arrest device for stopping a fall during ascending or descending action along a cable, comprising: - two oblong clamp portions (5, 7) which are spaced apart from each other and which during operation are present on either one of the two sides of the cable and slide over the cable, where each of these clamp portions is provided with a clamp surface, which clamp surfaces (6, 8) are located opposite each other and are facing each other and where each of the clamp portions has two ends (9a, 11a) seen in longitudinal direction, - two connecting arms (9, 11) which are spaced apart from each other seen in longitudinal direction of the clamp portions, where one of the ends (5a, 7a) of each clamp portion is hingedly connected to each of the connecting arms, and - a coupling element to which a carabiner can be affixed and which is hingedly connected to one of the ends (9a, 11a) of each of the connecting arms while the other end (5b, 7b) is connected to the other connecting arm, characterized in that the fall arrest device further includes a pawl which is located on the coupling element and can pivot around a pivot shaft and is pivotally connected to the coupling element between said first ends (9a, 11a) of the connecting arms (9, 11), which pawl has a free end which can be moved between: - an up/down position in which the clamp portions (5, 7) slightly press against the cable and the fall arrest device cannot be disengaged from the cable, and in which the pawl prevents an upward movement of the coupling element relative to the clamp portions (5, 7) in the event of the presence of the fall arrest device on a cable, - a clamp position in which the clamp portions (5, 7) firmly press against the cable, and - a release position in which the pawl allows of an upward movement of the coupling element relative to the clamp portions (5, 7) in the event of the presence of the fall arrest device on a cable, so that the fall arrest device can be disengaged from the cable. - two oblong clamp portions (5, 7) which are spaced apart from each other and which during operation are present on either one of the two sides of the cable and slide over the cable, where each of these clamp portions is provided with a clamp surface, which clamp surfaces (6, 8) are located opposite each other and are facing each other and where each of the clamp portions has two ends (9a, 11a) seen in longitudinal direction, - two connecting arms (9, 11) which are spaced apart from each other seen in longitudinal direction of the clamp portions, where one of the ends (5a, 7a) of each clamp portion is hingedly connected to each of the connecting arms, and - a coupling element to which a carabiner can be affixed and which is hingedly connected to one of the ends (9a, 11a) of each of the connecting arms while the other end (5b, 7b) is connected to the other connecting arm, - an up/down position in which the clamp portions (5, 7) slightly press against the cable and the fall arrest device cannot be disengaged from the cable, and in which the pawl prevents an upward movement of the coupling element relative to the clamp portions (5, 7) in the event of the presence of the fall arrest device on a cable, - a clamp position in which the clamp portions (5, 7) firmly press against the cable, and - a release position in which the pawl allows of an upward movement of the coupling element relative to the clamp portions (5, 7) in the event of the presence of the fall arrest device on a cable, so that the fall arrest device can be disengaged from the cable.