Parents criticise cave death trip

The parents of a boy who drowned while taking part in a school caving expedition have said the trip should never have taken place.

Paula and Martin Lister spoke out following the conclusion of the inquest into their son Joseph's death.

Joseph, 14, from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, drowned while exploring Manchester Hole cave in the Yorkshire Dales in November 2005.

A jury delivered a narrative verdict to Harrogate coroner Geoff Fell.

Questioned refused

Joseph was trying to make his way along a passage known as The Crawl with 10 other pupils and three adults when he got into difficulty in rapidly rising flood water.

Some of his Tadcaster Grammar School classmates had managed to "swim" to safety using air pockets in the narrow flooded passageway.

Outside Harrogate Magistrates' Court, Mr Lister said: "We believe this trip should never have taken place and we hope and trust that the responsible authorities will give proper consideration to taking appropriate action to bring matters before the courts, so that those responsible are also accountable."

Manchester Hole was used to teach children basic caving techniques

Group leader Tony Boyle refused to answer some questions put to him at the inquest, as was his right in case his answers incriminated him.

Mr Lister, a farmer, added: "When we arrived for the first day of the inquest, we expected a long and difficult week.

"But we hoped that at the end of it we would have heard all the evidence relating to Joe's death, since we assumed that all of the other parties involved in the tragedy would want us to know what, why and how that day had gone so terribly wrong.

"Although the coroner did his utmost to encourage this - if not on legal but moral grounds - in order to help us understand what happened, legal rules designed to protect individuals from self-incrimination prevailed, as a result of which many important questions remain unanswered.

"Not surprisingly this has left us feeling angry and frustrated."

Following the verdict the Health and Safety Executive said it would review the inquest evidence and consider whether or not any criminal charges would be brought.