Council faces court over boy's drowning

A council will face health and safety charges today in connection with a boy's drowning during a school caving trip.

Joe Lister died when floodwater swept through Manchester Hole Cave in the Yorkshire Dales in November 2005.

The 14-year-old schoolboy from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, 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.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is bringing the prosecution against North Yorkshire County Council.

The council, which owns and operates the outdoor education centre, Bewerley Park Centre, faces charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).

Joe, a pupil at Tadcaster Grammar School, became separated from his friends in the cave and drowned.

The case will be heard at Leeds Crown Court.