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| Cave roof collapse kills teenager | Cave roof collapse kills teenager |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A 16-year-old boy was killed and a teenager was hurt when a cave roof partially collapsed in Shropshire. | 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, off Lodge Lane, Bridgnorth, overnight, West Mercia Police said. | Rocks and rubble fell on a group of teenagers camping at the Hermitage Caves, off Lodge Lane, 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. | 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. |
| Police said it was believed that a group of youngsters had lit a fire while camping in the sandstone cave. | Police said it was believed that a group of youngsters had lit a fire while camping in the sandstone cave. |
| 'Tragic accident' | 'Tragic accident' |
| 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." |
| The spokesman added: "Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with a small fire inside the cave." | The spokesman added: "Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with a small fire inside the cave." |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service said the boy had gone into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing after the rock-fall. | West Midlands Ambulance Service said the boy had gone into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing after the rock-fall. |
| Police said it appeared to have been a "tragic accident" href="/1/hi/england/shropshire/7986481.stm"> Caves 'popular with children' | |
| Michelle Brotherton, the service's divisional commander for Shropshire, said a crew arrived at the scene eight minutes after the initial 999 call, which was made from a mobile phone. | Michelle Brotherton, the service's divisional commander for Shropshire, said a crew arrived at the scene eight minutes after the initial 999 call, which was made from a mobile phone. |
| Paramedics immediately took over attempts to resuscitate Aiden from his friends, who had been given instructions by an ambulance service operator. | Paramedics immediately took over attempts to resuscitate Aiden from his friends, who had been given instructions by an ambulance service operator. |
| The teenager later died at the Princess Royal Hospital, in Telford. | The teenager later died at the Princess Royal Hospital, in Telford. |
| A post-mortem examination has been held and the South Shropshire Coroner is expected to open an inquest later this week, police said. | A post-mortem examination has been held and the South Shropshire Coroner is expected to open an inquest later this week, police said. |
| The Health and Safety Executive has been informed. | The Health and Safety Executive has been informed. |
| A Facebook page set up in tribute to Aiden has already attracted more than 150 members. | A Facebook page set up in tribute to Aiden has already attracted more than 150 members. |
| Friend James Harrison wrote: "Such a great guy, surely will miss him, a supportive soul for his family and his friends, and greatly admired within the Air Cadets and from school." | Friend James Harrison wrote: "Such a great guy, surely will miss him, a supportive soul for his family and his friends, and greatly admired within the Air Cadets and from school." |
| Another friend, Keely Sheridan, added: "Aiden, it is true some people are just too good for this world." | Another friend, Keely Sheridan, added: "Aiden, it is true some people are just too good for this world." |
| 'Sadly missed' | 'Sadly missed' |
| The teenager had been a pupil at Oldbury Wells School in Bridgnorth. | The teenager had been a pupil at Oldbury Wells School in Bridgnorth. |
| Head teacher Sarah Godden described Aiden as an "excellent" student. | Head teacher Sarah Godden described Aiden as an "excellent" student. |
| She said he was "popular with staff and pupils" and would be "sadly missed". | She said he was "popular with staff and pupils" and would be "sadly missed". |
| The teenagers were camping in the caves when the roof collapsed | The teenagers were camping in the caves when the roof collapsed |
| The head teacher added: "Our thoughts are with Aiden's family and friends and everyone connected with the incident at this very difficult time." | The head teacher added: "Our thoughts are with Aiden's family and friends and everyone connected with the incident at this very difficult time." |
| Fred Allen, who played rugby with him, said there was not a "bad bone in his body" and he would have had a "very bright future in front of him". | Fred Allen, who played rugby with him, said there was not a "bad bone in his body" and he would have had a "very bright future in front of him". |
| Five friends of the dead teenager visited the caves to lay flowers. | Five friends of the dead teenager visited the caves to lay flowers. |
| One teenager said Aiden's wide circle of friends were all "absolutely gutted" to have lost someone who brought a smile to everybody. | One teenager said Aiden's wide circle of friends were all "absolutely gutted" to have lost someone who brought a smile to everybody. |
| He said: "He (Aiden) loved his rugby and he was a lovely lad. He will be hugely missed - he was funny and always made everyone laugh." | He said: "He (Aiden) loved his rugby and he was a lovely lad. He will be hugely missed - he was funny and always made everyone laugh." |
| 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." |
| 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 | Police at the scene of the fatal cave roof collapse |