A CAVING instructor broke down in tears as he told of his desperate fight to escape a flooded cave in North Yorkshire with a group of schoolchildren.

Tony Boyle, 47, was giving evidence about the death of 14-year-old Joe Lister of Steeton, near Tadcaster, who drowned in the flood on November 14, 2005.

Joe was among a group from Tadcaster Grammar School on a course at Bewerley Park activity centre, in Nidderdale.

Mr Boyle said he took the group into the cave, called Manchester Hole, and through a low-ceilinged area known as The Crawl.

But on the other side he noticed the water level was rising rapidly and told the group they had to leave quickly.

At Leeds Crown Court yesterday he broke down as he recalled stooping half-way along the ten metre-long tunnel to help the children through.

“I was in a very small space underwater and I had two students with me. We tried to force our way through under water, I was starting to lose consciousness,” he said.

“I unfortunately let go of the two students, and as soon as I could get my head out of the water, I did. I was very disoriented and close to drowning myself. I gathered my wits and turned around. I saw two lights in the water. I was able to get hold of them and pull them through.”

Mr Boyle, a highly experienced and qualified caver employed by Bewerley House, said more students came through and said they were the last.

He told the court a head count revealed that Joe was missing, but he did not swim back as he feared he could not get Joe back through The Crawl.

He said he did not want to leave the main group, and he hoped Joe had been able to climb up a mud bank and avoid the flood.

Prosecuting, Tim Horlock QC suggested Mr Boyle had been complacent and had not checked the water levels at a nearby dam which drained into the river.

He suggested Mr Boyle had not read Descent: a caving magazine, delivered to Bewerley House which told of a new sink-hole at Goyden Pot, which had the potential to cause Manchester Hole to flood.

Mr Boyle said he found the sink-hole himself in October 2005, but had not told anyone as he believed it to be blocked and did not go anywhere.

Mr Boyle was giving evidence for North Yorkshire County Council, which is accused of failing to ensure the health and safety of its staff and visiting children.

The trial continues.