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| Cave roof collapse kills teenager | Cave roof collapse kills teenager |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A 16-year-old boy was killed and a teenager was hurt when a cave roof partially collapsed in Shropshire. | |
| Rocks and rubble fell on a group of teenagers camping at the Hermitage Caves near Bridgnorth overnight, West Mercia Police said. | Rocks and rubble fell on a group of teenagers camping at the Hermitage Caves near Bridgnorth overnight, West Mercia Police said. |
| Aiden Peter Brookes, of Bridgnorth, died in the collapse early on Monday. | Aiden Peter Brookes, of Bridgnorth, died in the collapse early on Monday. |
| An 18-year-old girl was taken to hospital with back injuries. She was described as stable and her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. | |
| Residents said they thought up to 30 teenagers, aged between 15 and 19, had been at the cave. | Residents said they thought up to 30 teenagers, aged between 15 and 19, had been at the cave. |
| They also said there is a nearby warning sign urging people to keep out. | They also said there is a nearby warning sign urging people to keep out. |
| Police said it appeared to be a tragic accident | |
| It is believed the teenagers had lit a fire in the sandstone caves, off Lodge Lane to the east of Bridgnorth. | It is believed the teenagers had lit a fire in the sandstone caves, off Lodge Lane to the east of Bridgnorth. |
| A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "At this stage we are trying to establish exactly what happened but it seems that a quantity of rocks and rubble fell on those inside when part of the cave collapsed. | A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "At this stage we are trying to establish exactly what happened but it seems that a quantity of rocks and rubble fell on those inside when part of the cave collapsed. |
| "It appears to be a tragic accident." | "It appears to be a tragic accident." |
| Two ambulances were called to the caves at about 0215 BST to treat the boy who was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital, in Telford. | Two ambulances were called to the caves at about 0215 BST to treat the boy who was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital, in Telford. |
| An ambulance spokesman said: "Despite the best efforts of ambulance and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead shortly after arrival." | An ambulance spokesman said: "Despite the best efforts of ambulance and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead shortly after arrival." |
| The South Shropshire Coroner Anthony Sibcy and the Health and Safety Executive have been informed of the boy's death. | The South Shropshire Coroner Anthony Sibcy and the Health and Safety Executive have been informed of the boy's death. |
| 'Quite shocking' | |
| Tim Ball, who lives nearby in Lodge Lane, said he used to spend hours playing in the caves as a child, where people sometimes lit fires, but he never worried about his safety at the time. | Tim Ball, who lives nearby in Lodge Lane, said he used to spend hours playing in the caves as a child, where people sometimes lit fires, but he never worried about his safety at the time. |
| Mr Ball, 38, said: "There have been cave-ins recently because of the tree roots coming through the rock. | Mr Ball, 38, said: "There have been cave-ins recently because of the tree roots coming through the rock. |
| "The roots are pushing the sandstone down. | "The roots are pushing the sandstone down. |
| "It's the first time I have ever heard of anybody being killed and it's quite shocking." | "It's the first time I have ever heard of anybody being killed and it's quite shocking." |
| Another resident, Matthew Winwood, said he often saw people in and out of the caves, having parties and lighting fires. | Another resident, Matthew Winwood, said he often saw people in and out of the caves, having parties and lighting fires. |
| "It's a dangerous place," he said. | "It's a dangerous place," he said. |
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| Police at the scene of the fatal cave roof collapse |