Cave post mortem 'inconclusive'

Joseph was one of the school's star pupils

A post mortem examination on a 14-year-old North Yorkshire boy who died on a school caving trip has proved inconclusive.

Now toxicology and other tests will be carried out as pathologists try and establish how Joseph Lister, of Steeton, near Tadcaster, died.

He was trapped by rising water at Manchester Hole in Upper Nidderdale on Monday and rescuers found his body.

North Yorkshire Police said Joseph's parents were "totally devastated".

Two schools booked in at the county council-run Bewerley Park Centre near Pateley Bridge which ran the caving trip have been told that their trips have been postponed.

Meanwhile, Joseph's school said it was planning "a lasting memorial" to him.

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said: "The school has already opened a book of condolence and is considering what form of memorial to create.

"As a mark of respect, Bewerley Park will be closed next week. That affects two schools which were booked for activities."

The Bewerley Park Centre may not reopen until late November

A residential course planned for this weekend has also been called off.

The spokesman said the council had yet to decide when the centre would reopen but it was likely to be at the end of November.

Police investigating the accident are preparing to interview later this week the 10 students who were with Joseph on the cave visit.

"They will be treated very sensitively because they have been through a very traumatic experience," said the council spokesman.

Officers are also due to question the teachers and caving instructors involved in Monday's ill-fated exercise.

Keen sports fan Joseph is believed to have gone missing from the group as it made its way out of the cave system because of rapidly rising water following heavy rain.