Post by L Roebuck on Jun 22, 2006 9:32:01 GMT -5
Caver is killed doing the hobby he loved
A MAREHAY caver died doing the hobby he loved after a large boulder fell and pinned him to the ground, an inquest heard.
David Briggs, aged 37, had been hacking away at silt as part of a project to clear a blocked underground passage in the Peak District.
Fellow caver Lee Hollis told the inquest they began clearing the site near Aston Hill Farm, Pikehall, 13 years ago after learning about its existence from a Peak District caving guide.
They abandoned the job for various reasons but he and Mr Briggs resumed work in September 2004 and other enthusiasts joined in.
"He lived and breathed caving and he enjoyed the dig more than anyone, working on it most weekends," said Mr Hollis, who had caved all over the world with his friend.
He returned to the site after fetching some caving gear on March 25 when colleague Craig Darlington told him a boulder had fallen from the cave ceiling onto Mr Briggs' chest.
Mr Darlington said Mr Briggs had been laying on his side in the narrow passage, removing silt with a pick and filling buckets with it.
"I heard him shout. I saw his legs sticking out with the boulder on top of him. He asked me to get it off him. I couldn't get past it and it was difficult to lever it away," he told the inquest.
Mr Darlington said there had been no real cause for concern about the situation as they believed the boulder was part of a natural solid ceiling.
Police were alerted just before noon and cave rescue workers and fire-fighters joined them at the scene.
A mechanical digger was used to remove the boulder and Mr Briggs was eventually brought to the surface at 6.40pm.
He was taken to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where he was declared dead. The cause of death was asphyxiation, the boulder having compressed his chest and stopped him breathing.
Pc Russell Hubbard told the Chesterfield inquest: "At the time there appeared to be very little anyone could do to assist. There was a sense of helplessness."
North Derbyshire Coroner Tom Kelly recorded a verdict of death from asphyxiation on Mr Briggs, a tiler, of Warmwells Lane, Marehay, near Ripley.
22 June 2006
www.ripleytoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=797&ArticleID=1580531
A MAREHAY caver died doing the hobby he loved after a large boulder fell and pinned him to the ground, an inquest heard.
David Briggs, aged 37, had been hacking away at silt as part of a project to clear a blocked underground passage in the Peak District.
Fellow caver Lee Hollis told the inquest they began clearing the site near Aston Hill Farm, Pikehall, 13 years ago after learning about its existence from a Peak District caving guide.
They abandoned the job for various reasons but he and Mr Briggs resumed work in September 2004 and other enthusiasts joined in.
"He lived and breathed caving and he enjoyed the dig more than anyone, working on it most weekends," said Mr Hollis, who had caved all over the world with his friend.
He returned to the site after fetching some caving gear on March 25 when colleague Craig Darlington told him a boulder had fallen from the cave ceiling onto Mr Briggs' chest.
Mr Darlington said Mr Briggs had been laying on his side in the narrow passage, removing silt with a pick and filling buckets with it.
"I heard him shout. I saw his legs sticking out with the boulder on top of him. He asked me to get it off him. I couldn't get past it and it was difficult to lever it away," he told the inquest.
Mr Darlington said there had been no real cause for concern about the situation as they believed the boulder was part of a natural solid ceiling.
Police were alerted just before noon and cave rescue workers and fire-fighters joined them at the scene.
A mechanical digger was used to remove the boulder and Mr Briggs was eventually brought to the surface at 6.40pm.
He was taken to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, where he was declared dead. The cause of death was asphyxiation, the boulder having compressed his chest and stopped him breathing.
Pc Russell Hubbard told the Chesterfield inquest: "At the time there appeared to be very little anyone could do to assist. There was a sense of helplessness."
North Derbyshire Coroner Tom Kelly recorded a verdict of death from asphyxiation on Mr Briggs, a tiler, of Warmwells Lane, Marehay, near Ripley.
22 June 2006
www.ripleytoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=797&ArticleID=1580531