A teenager died after being crushed when part of a cave collapsed on him in, probably triggered by heat from a camp fire, an inquest heard.

Rugby player Aiden Brookes died after a boulder fell on him as he slept during a camping trip at Bridgnorth’s historic Hermitage Caves on April 6. South Shropshire coroner Anthony Sibcy was told by a geologist of a weakness in the “shoulder” of the 1,000-year-old cave.

The geologist said the weakness had combined with the heat of the fire to cause 200kg of rock to sheer away and fall.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Sibcy said it was likely that the fire had acted as a trigger for the wedge of rock falling.

The coroner praised the efforts of two young men who risked their lives to lift the sandstone slab off Aiden and carry him out of the cave following the “deafening” rockfall in the early hours.

Earlier, friends of the Oldbury Wells A-level student, who was born in South Africa, gave evidence to the inquest in Bridgnorth.

They included Jessica Wright, 19, who received hospital treatment after being struck by the falling rocks. Recalling the tragedy, which happened at 2.20am, she said: “At the point where the cave collapsed, Aiden was lying in front of the fire. He was smiling and asleep.

“I got up to change the music over, when I heard this deafening rumble, and I just remember falling face forward.”

Engineering geologist Andrew Bowden, who was asked by the coroner to investigate the collapse, said further rockfalls at the caves, which are classed as a scheduled ancient monument, were “inevitable”.

The owner of the land, a private estate, is now set to seek permission from the Government to erect fencing and grilles to prevent any further access to the caves, the inquest heard.

Aiden, who had two younger brothers, was a member of the training cadets in Bridgnorth and was planning to represent the UK at Disney World this year.