"WE are going to have to get through the tunnel now, or we won't get out alive!"

Those were the words of an instructor to 11 cold and scared children in the cave which claimed Joe Lister's life.

Today 14-year-old Amy Ryder, of Copmanthorpe, York, the final girl to escape the cave, told how she was the last school friend to see Joe alive.

The brave girl spoke exclusively to the Evening Press to put the record straight on what actually happened in the cave amid numerous rumours.

The teenager told how the group had become trapped on the wrong side of a small tunnel as flood waters suddenly started rising.

The children then had to swim through the submerged tunnel to get to safety.

Amy paid tribute to

popular Joe, who offered to let her go before him, but she declined and was the last to attempt the swim.

She said: "That was the kind of person Joe was, he was just being himself. He took a deep breath and went into the tunnel. That was the last time I saw him. He never came out the other side."

The Tadcaster Grammar School pupil told how the day had started for the children.

She said: "When we got to Bewerley Park we were all really excited. Everyone had told us it was going to be strict, but great fun. Joe had been laughing and smiling all morning. At dinner, he'd cheekily got extra portions and was really enjoying himself.

"We got on the bus, went out to the cave and pulled on our wellies. Joe didn't want to wear his helmet because he didn't want to mess up his hair, he was a bit of a poser at times, but he had to. He was so excited, he raced to the front because he wanted to be first into the cave.

"He was making us all laugh and as we went down, he kept splashing us with small handfuls of water. It was dark inside the cave, and cold, the water was about knee deep, but we were enjoying ourselves.

"We had to crawl through a tunnel, which was smaller than one metre square and about five metres long, to get to a cave beyond. We'd gone through and had been there for a few minutes when one of the pupils said 'I'm sure this water is getting deeper'."

It was, and quickly. One theory which emerged today is that strong winds in the hills above had blown surface water off a reservoir and sent it into the ravine below. Back in the cave, the teachers and instructors quickly had to make a decision.

Amy said: "The instructor looked at the rising water, looked at the tunnel and then said 'We are going to have to get through the tunnel now, or we won't get out alive'.

"We were all scared then because the tunnel had become submerged and we would have to swim through. I tried but it got congested, so I turned back and was in the last group. There was Joe, a teacher, one of the female instructors, called Jenny, and me."

Joe went into the tunnel and that was the last time Amy saw him.

"A teacher had followed him, then the instructor, and finally me. At this point the water outside the tunnel was shoulder high, it was freezing, and I thought I was going to die. I was praying. I swam into the tunnel but got my light snagged, if Jenny hadn't come back in and pulled me out, I would have died.

"I thought Joe had gone ahead because I was the last out, not him. I wanted to let his family know that he wasn't the last and he wasn't alone when he went into that tunnel. I also wanted to let people know that we hadn't been messing around, which is another rumour I have heard.

"On the other side of the tunnel everything was happening so fast. We scrabbled up the cave system trying to get ahead of the water. As soon as they could, the instructors did a head count and that was when we realised Joe was not there.

"We still had to get out of the cave and raise the alarm, but we thought Joe had simply gone ahead. We finally got out and got back to the bus, the instructors were great, giving us blankets to get us warm while they raised the alarm.

"We were taken back to the centre but kept apart from the other pupils. We still didn't know what had happened to Joe. We kept expecting him to walk through the door with a big smile on his face, talking about his adventure.

"Then later that night we were told he had died. I still cannot believe it. At school, we still think he's going to turn up. Everyone there has been so nice to each other because Joe was one of those people everyone knew. Everyone has been asking each other if they are alright.

"I decided to speak, not because I wanted attention, but because I wanted his family, and his best friends at school, to know that Joe had been smiling and enjoying himself, and that he wasn't the last person out. No one left him behind and he wasn't alone when it happened."

Yesterday, Amy gave her video statement to police along with her friend on the trip, and she has had an appointment with a counsellor at school.

Relief of Amy's parents

AMY RYDER'S parents today told of their relief that their daughter was safe and well.

Kevin, 43, and Alison, 41, also said at this stage they were not blaming anyone for the accident and would send their children on school trips again.

Kevin said: "Our thoughts are with Joe's family today. We are just so glad Amy is okay, she is dealing with things but obviously it will take time.

"It seems at this stage that it looks like it was a freak accident, so we are not pointing fingers.

"Amy has been on school trips before and they have always been well ran. The trips still have our confidence and we would let her go on them again. We just want Joe's family to know our thoughts are with them."

Amy said: "I think the trips are important and I think I would go on another, but I would not go caving again."

Family speaks of loss

PARENTS of 14-year-old Joe Lister who died on a school

caving trip have spoken of their "total devastation" at their loss.

The couple, Martin and Paula Lister, have been comforted at their farmhouse at Steeton near Tadcaster by relatives since the tragedy on Monday.

Their teenage son, a Tadcaster Grammar School student, was on the first day of an annual school trip at Manchester Hole in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, when it is believed he became trapped by rising water during an introduction to caving.

In a statement issued on behalf of his parents by North Yorkshire Police, spokesman Tony Lidgate said: "Joseph's parents, Martin and Paula, would like to express their feelings of total devastation over their recent loss.

"They are grateful for the help and support already received from their family and friends but do not feel they will be in a position to make any further comment until the full facts of this tragic incident are known."

He also said: "A post mortem examination has been carried out, but this was inconclusive. We are now awaiting the results of toxicology and other tests to establish the cause of death."

An investigation is still underway into the cause of the death, and the council-run Bewerley Park Outdoor Education Centre in Nidderdale, which ran the trip.

Justin McCracken, acting chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: "On behalf of HSE, I would like to express my sympathy to the family and friends of Joseph Lister as well as to his fellow pupils and teachers, for whom this is a deeply shocking event.

"HSE believes very strongly in the educational value of well-planned visits and is a firm supporter of outdoor education.

"Thousands of school trips take place every year without incident. We would not discourage such trips as the benefits to pupils can be immense. Serious incidents are extremely rare.

"HSE and North Yorkshire Police have commenced a joint investigation. If there are any lessons to be learnt from this tragedy they will be widely shared."

Updated: 16:36 Thursday, November 17, 2005