British cave diver Andrew Rice, 43, was found dead 270ft underwater in the Saint-Sauveur cave system in Calès, France, after failing to resurface. His death prompted a two-day search involving specialist divers, firefighters, gendarmes and cave-rescue experts, while tributes highlighted his experience and the shock felt by friends and fellow divers.

Rice, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, entered the cave at about 3.30pm with two other divers, but an alarm was raised when he had not returned by around 8pm. Reports said he became caught in a guideline, while disturbed clay made the recovery operation particularly difficult by reducing visibility; authorities have not yet determined the cause of death and an investigation is under way. He had recently been preparing for what he described as his 1,000th dive.