AN abseiling teacher plunged to his death into a cave in front of horrified students.
The instructor tragically died on Thursday after falling into Brides Cave, in Western Australia.
The 53-year-old dad was demonstrating an abseiling activity to a group of schoolkids when he made the fatal plunge at the cave site near Margaret River.
Emergency services were called to the scene at 3.20pm after it was reported that the instructor had fallen during an abseiling activity.
The man tragically died at the scene.
Cops said several students were inside the cave at the time of the accident and had to watch the horror unfold.
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A police spokesperson said the "well-respected" member of the caving community was leading an excursion of 15 Year 11 students and two teachers at the Brides Cave site.
“A number of students and teachers had already abseiled down to the bottom of the cave area when the instructor fell,” the spokesman said.
It has been reported that first aid was provided to the man by the school group before an air ambulance was scrambled to the scene.
"A lot of effort was put in place to try and revive him," Sergeant Simone Taplin, from the Margaret River Police Station, said.
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"That assistance didn't work," she said, adding the scene was "quite traumatic".
Following the fatal accident, the students were guided out of the cave by other abseiling professionals before being put onto a bus where they were spoken to by a counsellor.
The instructor leaves behind a young family and had lived in the community for several years.
Margaret River Shire President Paula Cristoffanini paid tribute to the man – describing him as "much-loved".
“Yesterday, we lost a much-loved local member of our community and I’d like to extend my condolences with the victim’s family, friends and all involved in this unfortunate event,” Ms Cristoffanini said.
“We are a close and resilient community here in Margaret River, and now is a time to support once another and all who knew this wonderful man. He will be greatly missed”.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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