No charges after boy's cave death

Joseph went missing as his party made their way out of the caves

No-one will face criminal charges following the death of 14-year-old boy on a school caving trip, police said.

Joseph Lister was part of a group from Tadcaster Grammar School learning to cave in Upper Nidderdale, North Yorks.

He had to be rescued from an area known as Manchester Hole and was taken to hospital suffering from acute hypothermia in November 2005.

Joseph, from Steeton, near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, was later pronounced dead at Harrogate District Hospital.

'Infectious smile'

It is thought he had become trapped in the cave system by rising water levels.

The incident came less than two weeks after ministers published plans to encourage more school trips, which included a guarantee for every pupil to have the chance to attend at least one residential trip during their time at school.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "After due consideration of the file by the Crown Prosecution Service there will be no criminal proceedings arising from the incident."

He said the coroner had been informed of this decision.

Following Joseph's death his head teacher, Geoff Mitchell, said the school had lost someone "very special" and described him as "a larger than life character with an infectious smile".