List of UK caving fatalities

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This is a list of recreational caving fatalities in the United Kingdom. It includes all verified deaths associated with the exploration of natural caves and disused mines in the modern era (post 1880). Deaths involving members of the general public who may have slipped down a shaft, or wandered into a cave without being aware of the risks, have been excluded.

Contents

Caving cannot be considered a particularly dangerous pastime. In 2018, there were up to 4,000 regular cavers in the UK, and about 70,000 people who went on instructor-led courses into caves in the Yorkshire Dales, but there were no fatalities. [1]

List of fatalities

Porth yr Ogof - the scene of 11 fatalities 1 entrance to Porth yr ogof.jpg
Porth yr Ogof – the scene of 11 fatalities

The following is a list of the 138 identified recorded fatalities associated with recreational caving in the UK. The main causes of death have been drowning when cave diving, drowning as the result of flooding or negotiating deep water, injuries incurred from falling from a height, and injuries incurred as the result of rock falls. In ten cases the bodies have not been recovered.

The worst incident in UK caving history was the Mossdale Caverns incident in 1967 when six cavers drowned following an unexpected cloudburst. [2] There have been three incidents when three people have died. The first was when three cavers drowned in Langstroth Pot in 1976 when free-diving short sections of underwater passage as the result of the air in an air bell becoming foul. [3] Three cavers were killed by a rock fall in Ease Gill Caverns in 1988, [4] and three cavers drowned in the Marble Arch system in 1995. [5]

Porth yr Ogof, in South Wales, accounts for eleven fatalities, nine of which were the result of people drowning when negotiating the exit pool. [6] Ease Gill Caverns and its associated entrances account for ten deaths; Alum Pot and its associated entrances account for eight; and Mossdale Caverns accounts for six, all from the 1967 incident.

The only case of a caver dying in the UK as the result of becoming stuck was Neil Moss in Peak Cavern in 1959. The cause of death was foul air building up around him. [7]

DateCaveAreaCauseNameNotes
Sept 1909Square Shaft, Alderley Edge Peak DistrictFallAlexander Rea17-year-old boy on school outing [8] [9]
May 1929West Mine, Alderley Edge Peak DistrictHypothermiaGeorge Etchells
Alfred Hadfield		Bodies found 7 September 1929 [10] [11]
July 1936 Alum Pot Yorkshire Dales  Rock fallMabel BinksPossibly hit by a rock deliberately thrown down the shaft [12] [13]
May 1939 Rowten Pot Yorkshire DalesDrownedJohn LambertFell and subsequently drowned [14] [15]
March 1946West Mine, Alderley Edge Peak DistrictFallArthur Murray [16]
Dec 1946Grange Rigg PotYorkshire DalesHypothermiaHarold SargeantDied following a fall [17] [18]
May 1948West Mine, Alderley Edge Peak DistrictFallLeslie Hunt13-year-old schoolboy [19]
Apr 1949 Wookey Hole MendipDivingGordon Marriott [20]
May 1951Penyghent PotYorkshire DalesHypothermiaJohn Williams [21]
Oct 1954West Mine, Alderley Edge Peak DistrictFallKenneth John Booth16-year-old schoolboy [22]
May 1955 Alum Pot Yorkshire DalesFallJohn Edgar FisherFell from near top of Dolly Tubs pitch when unlifelined [23] [24]
Jun 1957 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedLeonard Garraway [25] [26]
Jan 1958 Goyden Pot Yorkshire DalesDrownedBrian KerrBody not recovered [27] [28]
Jan 1959 Swildon's Hole MendipHypothermiaJohn Wallington [29] [30]
Mar 1959 Peak Cavern Peak DistrictAsphyxia Neil Moss Result of being trapped in confined space. Body interred in situ [31]
July 1959Dow CaveYorkshire DalesRock fallDavid Priestman [32]
Dec 1959 Bar Pot Yorkshire DalesFallEric Sugden [33] [34]
Dec 1960 Eastwater Cavern MendipRock fallAlan Hartnell [35] [36]
Jun 1961Coed-y-Mwstwr Woods CaveSouth WalesRock fallTony Lewis [37]
Sep 1961Ball Eye MinePeak DistrictFallGeorge Keeling [38] [39]
Jan 1962Hell HoleYorkshire DalesDrownedEban Beeves [40] [41]
Oct 1962 Alum Pot Yorkshire DalesFallJohn Hopley [42] [43]
Mar 1963Deep Ecton MinePeak DistrictDivingGarry McElliottDiving with British Sub-Aqua Club – not a cave diver [44]
Mar 1963 Longwood Swallet MendipHypothermiaHeather Muirhead [45] [46]
May 1963Mandale MinePeak DistrictDrownedRoger LowDrowned after falling down flooded surface shaft [47] [48]
Nov 1963Marble Steps PotYorkshire DalesDrownedMike McShea [49]
Mar 1964 Lancaster Hole Yorkshire DalesDivingAlan Clegg [50]
Jun 1966 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedRichard Speakman [51]
Jan 1967 Alum Pot Yorkshire DalesFallJames DrummondSchoolboy under supervision [52] [53]
Feb 1967Carlswark CavernPeak DistrictDrownedRobert MacDonald14-year-old schoolboy under supervision [54] [55]
Mar 1967Easter Iron MineForest of DeanFallRex Keene Hemp rope broke when abseiling 90 metre shaft [56] [57]
Jun 1967 Mossdale Caverns Yorkshire DalesDrownedDave Adamson
Geoffrey Boireau
William Frakes
John Ogden
Michael Ryan
Colin Vickers		The bodies were later interred in the far reaches of cave [2] [58]
Oct 1967Sunset HoleYorkshire DalesFallEric LuckhurstRescue formed basis of Sid Perou's film Sunday at Sunset Pot [59]
Aug 1968 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedAnthony Stannard [60]
Mar 1969Meregill HoleYorkshire DalesHypothermiaChristopher Hay [61] [62]
Aug 1969 Ease Gill Caverns Yorkshire DalesRock fallDuncan Glasfurd [63] [64]
Sep 1970PollanaffrinNorthern IrelandNatural causesMick Mulligan [65]
Oct 1970Keld HeadYorkshire DalesDivingAlan ErithRemains retrieved 5 years later [66] [52]
Oct 1970 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedStephen Sedgewick [6] [67]
Feb 1971 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedPaul EsserRemains retrieved in 2010 [68]
May 1971 Weathercote Cave Yorkshire DalesRock fallJohn Fellows [69] [70]
Sep 1971 Swinsto Cave Yorkshire DalesFallMichael Midgley [52]
Aug 1972Firehose CaveScotlandDrownedPeter Clements [71]
Mar 1973Knotlow MinePeak DistrictDrownedAlan Evans [72]
May 1973Wood Mine, Alderley Edge Peak DistrictDrownedPaul Shaw14-year-old boy on an outdoor pursuits course [73]
July 1973 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedGraham AlstonTrainee soldier on exercise [6] [74]
Sep 1973 Eldon Hole Peak DistrictFallSulo Sulonen [75]
Apr 1974Holme Hill CaveYorkshire DalesFallPeter Trousdale [76]
Jun 1974 Ogof Agen Allwedd South WalesDivingRoger SolariBody not recovered [77] [78]
July 1974Merlin's CavePeak DistrictDivingJohn Smith [79]
Dec 1974 Gaping Gill Yorkshire DalesFallDavid HuxtableConsidered to be the UK's first SRT fatality [80]
Sep 1975 Ireby Fell Cavern Yorkshire DalesFallStephen Hughes [81]
Feb 1976 Oxlow Cavern Peak DistrictFallStephen Nunwick [82]
May 1976Langstroth PotYorkshire DalesDrownedMartin Blackburn
Brian Fox
Donald Southern		Encountered foul air whilst free-diving [3]
Aug 1976Royal Hopping MinePeak DistrictRock fallLeslie Wheeler [83]
May 1977Blayshaw Gill PotYorkshire DalesRock fallJohn Rhodes [84]
Sep 1977Ilam RisingPeak DistrictDivingMike Nelson [85] [86]
April 1978Wheal Edward MineCornwallFallStella Bourke [87]
Oct 1979Cote Gill PotYorkshire DalesCO poisoningRichard Marvel
John Staniforth		Result of using high explosives [88]
Dec 1979 Ogof Ffynnon Ddu South WalesDrownedJ. Fitton
D.Gough		Washed away [89]
Mar 1980Bull Pot of the WitchesYorkshire DalesDivingIan Plant [90] [91]
Aug 1980 GB Cave MendipNatural causesIan Roberts-Miller [92] [93]
Oct 1980Top SinkYorkshire DalesFallTracy Gibson [94]
Nov 1980Keld HeadYorkshire DalesDivingMark Woodhouse [95] [91]
Feb 1981PollnacromNorthern IrelandDivingDavid WoodsBody not recovered [96]
July 1981 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedAdrian Luck [97] [98]
Nov 1981 Wookey Hole MendipDivingKeith Potter [99] [91]
May 1982 Gaping Gill Yorkshire DalesFallEdward Holstead [100]
May 1982Diccan PotYorkshire DalesNatural causesAnthony Mosedale [100]
Jun 1982Sunset PotYorkshire DalesDrownedNeofitos Savva [100]
Aug 1982 Ireby Fell Cavern Yorkshire DalesFallJohn Martin [101]
Nov 1982 Gaping Gill Yorkshire DalesFallRobert Watson [101]
Sep 1983Smallcleugh MineCumbriaFallDavid Colin Brooks17-year-old boy scout fell 18 metres [102] [103]
Jan 1985Hurtle PotYorkshire DalesDivingDerek Crossland [104] [91]
Feb 1985Bagshawe CavernPeak DistrictDrownedMark Dowsett15-year-old schoolboy on school trip [76] [105]
Nov 1985 Lancaster Hole Yorkshire DalesDrownedDavid James [106]
Jan 1986 Longwood Swallet MendipRock fallAtilla Kurucz [107] [108]
Mar 1986 Rowten Pot Yorkshire DalesDrownedDavid Anderson Cave Rescue Organisation team member on rescue [109]
May 1986Dale Head PotYorkshire DalesDrownedJames Taylor [110]
July 1986 Porth yr Ogof South WalesNatural causesGwynfor Hughes [6]
Apr 1988unnamed caveYorkshire DalesDivingNick Whaite [111] [91]
May 1988 Ease Gill Caverns Yorkshire DalesRock fallJanet Barnfield
Michael Preece
David Simpson		 [4]
Aug 1988Uamh Claig-ionnScotlandHypothermiaCharles Butterworth [112]
Feb 1989 Jib Tunnel Yorkshire DalesHypothermiaKeith Mann [113]
May 1989Ivy Green CavePeak DistrictHypothermiaMichael BoultonBody found a year later 100 metres (330 ft) in, with no lighting [114]
Feb 1990Kingsdale Master CaveYorkshire DalesDrownedPhil Tamms [115]
Jul 1990 Glynneath Silica MineSouth WalesNatural causesNeville GroomOn management training course [116]
July 1991Jacob's MinePeak DistrictRock fallStephen Goodwin [117]
Nov 1991Sell Gill HolesYorkshire DalesNatural causesFrancis Hardy [117]
Jun 1992 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedAmanda Stead [118]
Jun 1992Joint HoleYorkshire DalesDrownedMartin McMahon [119] [91]
Oct 1992 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedGraham LippDied after rescuing boy [120] [121]
Jan 1993Kingsdale Master CaveYorkshire DalesDrownedMichael JonesWashed into Kingsdale Master Cave sump [122]
Feb 1994 Lost Johns' Cave Yorkshire DalesRock fallPaul Lyons [123]
July 1994Dismal Hill CaveYorkshire DalesDivingTrevor Kemp [124] [91]
Oct 1994Old Ing CaveYorkshire DalesDrownedPeter Ball [125]
Nov 1994 Whittington Stone MineCotswoldsNatural causesBob Fairclough [126]
Jan 1995 Marble Arch Caves Northern IrelandDrownedCon Cormican
Brian Kennedy
Philip Marshall		 [5]
May 1995Calf HolesYorkshire DalesNatural causesThomas DennyManagement training exercise [127]
Aug 1996Quaking PotYorkshire DalesFallChristine Bleakley [128]
May 1997 Lancaster Hole Yorkshire DalesFallMichael Jeffries [129]
Dec 1998Ogof Pont Y MeirwSouth WalesDivingPeter Fowler [130] [91]
Nov 2000 Lancaster Hole Yorkshire DalesDrownedHoward Rothwell [131]
February 2001 Ireby Fell Cavern Yorkshire DalesDrownedJulian Carrol
Ray Lea		 [132]
July 2002 Porth yr Ogof South WalesDrownedKevin Sharman [133]
Sep 2004 Notts Pot Yorkshire DalesFallPaula Szajnowska [134]
Mar 2005Low Birkwith CaveYorkshire DalesDivingColin Pryer [135] [91]
Nov 2005 Manchester Hole Yorkshire DalesHypothermiaJoseph ListerSchoolboy under supervision [136]
Mar 2006 Upper Flood Swallet MendipNatural causesMalcolm Cotter [137]
Mar 2006Astonhill SwalletPeak DistrictRock fallDavid Briggs [137] [138]
Aug 2006Meregill SkitYorkshire DalesNatural causesMike WoodingDied of natural causes whilst diving [139]
Dec 2007 Giant's Hole Peak DistrictHypothermiaPaul Fowkes [140] [141]
Dec 2007 Lower Long Churn Yorkshire DalesDrownedCaroline Fletcher
Stuart Goodwill		 [142] [143]
July 2008Coal mine at Craigmillar ScotlandAsphyxiaPeter IresonAbseiled into foul air in disused coal mine [144] [145]
Apr 2011Pwll-y-CymSouth WalesDivingBonnie Cotier [146] [147]
Aug 2014Aber Las MineNorth WalesAsphyxiaWill SmithOvercome by foul air in disused slate mine [148] [149] [150]
Feb 2015Bull Pot, KingsdaleYorkshire DalesRock fallGordon Aitken [151] [152]
Aug 2017Ewes Top Moss Pot, Scales MoorYorkshire DalesNatural causesMichael WoodDate uncertain - body not found for several weeks [153] [154]
Jun 2019Curtain Pot, Fountains Fell Yorkshire DalesFallHarry Hesketh [155] [156]
Jan 2020 Lancaster Hole Yorkshire DalesDivingSimon Halliday [157] [158]
Mar 2023Ayton Monument Mine, Great Ayton OtherAsphyxiaAdam Perkins [159] [160]
Jan 2025Diccan PotYorkshire DalesFallNot yet publicly confirmed [161]

Breakdown of fatalities by cause and area

The following table summarises the major causes of fatality in UK caving by cause and by area. The commonest cause of fatality in the UK is drowning - accounting for almost half the deaths when cave diving is included, and 40% when diving is excluded. The second major cause of fatality, when cave diving is excluded, is falling from height which accounts for 23% of fatalities, followed by rock fall which accounts for 13% of fatalities. The 'Other' category includes gas poisoning and asphyxiation.

AreaDivingDrownedFallRock fallHypothermiaNatural causesOtherTotal
Mendip20022208
Northern Ireland  13000105
Peak District357340123
South Wales3120102018
Yorkshire Dales  926181055275
Other01301139
Total1847281612116138

Breakdown of fatalities by cause and decade

The following table summarises the major causes of fatality in UK caving by decade. The changes from decade to decade partly reflect the different numbers of active cavers, partly changing techniques, and partly improved equipment. [162]

DecadeDivingDrownedFallRock fallHypothermiaNatural causesOtherTotal
1900s00100001
1910s00000000
1920s00002002
1930s01010002
1940s10201004
1950s02312019
1960s2125320024
1970s4117301228
1980s665433027
1990s292204019
2000s161122114
2010s10110115
2020s10100013
Total1847281612116138

Breakdown of fatalities over time

The following bar chart shows the number of fatalities in each decade:

List of UK caving fatalities

See also

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References

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  2. 1 2 Kershaw, Roy (15 March 2008). "What lies beneath: Mossdale caving disaster". The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media Limited. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Langstroth deaths - foul air blamed". Descent (34): 18. August 1976.
  4. 1 2 Boothroyd, Colin (June–July 1988). "Easegill Tragedy". Descent (82): 12.
  5. 1 2 Kelly, John (April–May 1995). "Marble Arch fatalities". Descent (123): 18.
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  9. ↑ "Fall into mine". Leominster News and North West Herefordshire & Radnorshire Advertiser. 17 September 1909.
  10. ↑ "Bodies found in old mine". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 10 September 1929.
  11. ↑ "Mummified Bodies. Danger of Old Mines". The Scotsman. 11 September 1929.
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  15. ↑ "Questions after Yorkshire Fatality". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 10 May 1939.
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  24. ↑ "Pothole club leader falls 40 ft. to death". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 23 June 1955.
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  53. ↑ "Fatal Fall". Birmingham Daily Post. 16 January 1967.
  54. ↑ "Boy, 14, dies on potholing trip". Daily Mirror. 2 February 1967.
  55. ↑ McDonald, Pete (2018). The Story of White Hall Centre: Outdoor Education across the Decades. Dunedin, New Zealand: Pete McDonald. p. 408. ISBN   9780473425272.
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  57. ↑ Elliot, John (December 2002). "Easter Iron Mine Engine House". Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club Newsletter (128): 6.
  58. ↑ Brook, Dave (July 1971). "Mossdale Caverns 1971". University of Leeds Speleological Association Review (8): 24–25.
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  60. ↑ "Drowned while potholing". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 8 August 1968.
  61. ↑ "Potholer dies in 10ft fall". The Scotsman. 17 March 1969.
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  63. ↑ Eyre (1988), p. 91.
  64. ↑ "Easegill Tragedy". Speleologist. 3 (19): 3. Autumn 1969.
  65. ↑ "Mick Mulligan". ULSA Review (8). July 1971.
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  70. ↑ "Caver hurt". Newcastle Journal. 10 May 1971.
  71. ↑ "News in Descent". Descent (23): 23. April 1973.
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  73. ↑ Bedford, Bruce (July 1973). "Alderley Edge Fatality". Descent (24): 6.
  74. ↑ "Seal off cave – jury". Birmingham Daily Post. 4 August 1973.
  75. ↑ "News North". Descent (26): 10. January–February 1974.
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  147. ↑ "Experienced caver, 53, drowned in Gwent gorge complex - inquest". South Wales Argus. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
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  149. ↑ Hambridge, Karen (29 August 2014). "Diver dies in Welsh quarry accident". The Hinckley Times. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  150. ↑ "Caver Will Smith's Llangollen slate mine death inquest". bbc.co.uk/news/. BBC. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
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  152. ↑ "Lancaster caver dies after being crushed by falling rock". The Visitor. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  153. ↑ "Missing man Michael Wood, aged 68, from Sharples found dead". The Bolton News. Newsquest. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  154. ↑ Tate, Lesley (5 July 2018). "Experienced caver found dead in pothole near Ingleton had been undiscovered for several weeks". No. Craven Herald. Newsquest (Yorkshire & North East) Ltd. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  155. ↑ Leeson, Lucy (3 June 2019). "Rescuers speak of desperate attempts to save Yorkshire Dales caver Harry Hesketh". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  156. ↑ "Caver Harry Hesketh died 'accidentally' inquest hears". Keighley News. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
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  158. ↑ John Cordingley (February–March 2020). "Cave Diving Fatality". Descent (272): 13.
  159. ↑ Newton, Grace. "Adam Perkins: Police find body of missing Sheffield camper, 24, in North Yorkshire countryside". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  160. ↑ "Cavers who found missing Adam Perkins' body had 'gut-feeling' where he was". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  161. ↑ "INCIDENT 11/2025. JAN 19th SUN. 12.27hrs. DICCAN POT, SELSIDE, HORTON in RIBBLESDALE, NORTH YORKSHIRE – The Cave Rescue Organisation". 21 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
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