A company director has pleaded not guilty to alleged health and safety failings after a man became trapped at a Lake District adventure centre and later died.
Carl O’Keeffe, 49, of Lancaster, died at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary several days after being seriously injured at Kong Adventure, in Keswick, on Saturday April 22 2023.
Mr O’Keeffe had been at the centre for a family member’s birthday party.
He was reported to have become trapped in a narrow tunnel for several hours before being released by mountain rescue volunteers, caving experts and firefighters.
Adventure centre staff, helped by visitors, were said to have dismantled sections of the climbing wall to aid access to tunnels hidden behind the wall panels.
In a tribute given after the tragedy, his family said: “Carl was a devoted parent and he will leave a huge hole in their lives. His sister, Olivia Short, described relatives being “broken-hearted”.
A Kong Adventure Centre statement said: “All the staff at Kong Adventure are shocked and saddened to hear this terrible news. Our thoughts at this time are with the family, friends and everyone involved.”
An investigation was launched in the wake of the incident.
Cumberland Council has brought a prosecution and two charges against King Kong Climbing Centre Limited and 63-year-old director Paul Cornforth.
The two charges allege health and safety failings.
It is alleged that the company, on or before April 22 2023, failed to conduct its undertaking for the indoor caving experience at Kong Adventure Centre to ensure people outside its employment — including Mr O’Keeffe — were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
Cornforth faces a separate charge of failing to discharge a duty.
This alleges that the company committed an offence with the consent or connivance — or was attributable to the neglect — of Cornforth as an officer of the business.
Those two charges were put to Cornforth — whose address is given as Threlkeld Quarry, Threlkeld, near Keswick — when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court this afternoon.
During a 20-minute hearing in front of Her Honour Judge Moreland, Cornforth entered not guilty pleas to both allegations. He also spoke to confirm his name and date of birth.
Barrister Alex Stein, for Cumberland Council, said the prosecution arose out of alleged health and safety failings linked to the indoor caving experience at the Kong attraction.
It was alleged, said Mr Stein, that there was no system in relation to what to do if someone was trapped; that there were insufficient escape hatches — and that one escape hatch five to six metres above ground was locked on April 22 2023; and that there were further alleged failings with staff training and risk assessment on the caving activity.
Both the prosecution and defence teams would be serving evidence from separate healthy and safety experts in due course, the court heard.
A trial date was fixed. This is due to start on April 12 2027, and has been given a time estimate of two weeks.
Cornforth is next due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court for a further case management hearing on July 13. In the meantime he remains on unconditional bail.
