Student missing in New Zealand cave after heavy rain

[alanw]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern...rvices-responding/AS7MX35KVRB3XEI3QH2BUCLAHU/

One student is still missing as rescuers rush to a caving spot in Whangārei where torrential downpours left members of a school trip trapped.

Northland Police district commander superintendent Tony Hill confirmed one person was unaccounted for following an incident at the Abbey Caves.

About 10.35am today it was reported the group was in difficulty, Hill said.

“A group of people have since made it out safely, however, one student is currently unaccounted for.

 

[Joe Duxbury]

The BBC website report included the information that the missing person 'was among 15 students and two teachers who had gone to Abbey Caves, a series of three underground caves.'
Ah, more of those remarkable underground caves.

 

[Ian Ball]

Hope they are all well and good.

 

[alanw]

Hope they are all well and good.

Sadly, no.

Body of missing student recovered from caves; school comes under fire for allowing trip

The boy's body was recovered late last night.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Something has gone very seriously wrong, from the above article:

Questions about why the outing was not called off remain unanswered, and intensified after Stuff revealed students were meant to be rock climbing but the forecast downpours forced the trip underground instead.

 

[Ian Ball]

oh no

 

[alanw]

From the local council's web site on the Abbey Caves.

• Check weather forecast as caves can be prone to flash flooding

and Sign warned of flooding perils, trip went ahead despite orange heavy rain warning