Soldier dies in cave training exercise

A young soldier died during an Army training exercise yesterday, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The man, who has not been named, apparently became separated from a group on exercise in the Porth yr Ogof cave complex, near the village of Ystradfellte, south Wales.

Dyfed Powys Police said police, the fire service and a special cave rescue group were called to the scene in the afternoon in response to reports that a man was in difficulty in an underground rock pool.

A police spokesman added: "Following an underwater search, the body of a young man was recovered. He was a member of the armed forces undertaking an exercise in the area. No further details are being released until the next of kin have been informed."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that there had been a death. It is understood the soldier was pronounced dead on arrival at Morriston hospital in Swansea.

Porth yr Ogof is a particularly dangerous complex and has claimed several lives. The website www.ukcaves.co.uk says: "The cave is very much overused by adventure groups. The main route follows the river, which in wet weather flows into the main entrance, the largest entrance in Wales.

"The water exit is the area that has claimed so many lives, being deep and cold with strong undercurrents."