SHOCKED friends have led tributes to a talented 33-year-old Haydock adventurer who drowned while caving beneath the Yorkshire Dales.

Stuart Goodwill, from Haydock, died in the 350ft deep Alum Pot, in Ribblesdale, Yorkshire, along with fellow caver and work colleague Caroline Jane Fletcher, 28, from Keighley.

Devastated family and friends are due to attend Stuart's funeral on Thursday.

Details surrounding the tragedy are subject to an investigation, but it is believed vastly experienced caver Stuart and Caroline, thought to be a novice, died after becoming trapped by rising waters.

Their bodies were found just 30ft from the cave's entrance by rescue teams following a search in the early hours of Friday, Dec 28.

Stuart's wife, Claire, had raised the alarm shortly after midnight when her husband failed to return home.

Stuart's pal, professional caving instructor Les Sykes, told the Star: "Stuart would not take any unnecessary risks. He would always do safety assessments. Some kind of unforseeable incident seems to have occurred."

Les, 52, from Skelmersdale, this week led tributes to Stuart, a mechanical and electrical engineer.

He said: "Stuart was a dear friend, a caving colleague who had an exceptional personality. He was always cheerful, had a fantastic laidback attitude and was someone I think I never saw in a bad mood."

Les said Stuart was driven to explore the earth's hidden depths", adding it is a passion difficult to explain "unless you have experienced the beauty, harsh environment and desire to explore underground rivers".

Stuart had been caving for 16 years and founded a St Helens club for the pursuit when just a teenager. His technical expertise meant he also carried out pioneering anchor system safety work in caves.

Caving pals say Stuart will also be remembered for making potholing safer and that the techniques he developed are in use around the world.

Les added: "Stuart will be missed, but there are some 3,000 shiny anchors sticking out of cave walls that will always be part of his legacy."

Since marrying Claire three years ago, Stuart, had lived in Darlington but friends say he would return home to St Helens regularly to see his parents Ken and Carol.

Stuart's funeral is due to take place on Thursday at St James Church, Haydock at 12.30pm followed by committal at St Helens Crematorium.

The family has asked for donations to be made to Caving Rescue, care of Craddock and Lamb Funeral Service.