The Perth Catholic School at the centre of a fatal caving accident in WA's Margaret River region has extended its condolences to the deceased man's family.
A 53-year-old man was supervising a group of Year 11 students from Newman College, in Perth's inner north, when he fell to his death at Brides Cave in Boranup Forest on Thursday.
Emergency services were called to site, but the man, an experienced abseiling instructor and Margaret River local, died as a result of his injuries.
Margaret River Police officer in charge Simone Taplin said police took extra care to protect the 15 students and two teachers from further trauma after arriving on scene.
"We were grateful to the caving community who were there to help," Sergeant Taplin said.
"The [students] welfare was primary for us to ensure they weren't traumatised further.
"The children were in shock and I think the complexity of what happened hadn't hit them."
Sergeant Taplin said the man had been helping the students and their two teachers safely descend into the cave before he fell.
"A lot of effort was put it in to try and revive him," she said.
"It's quite traumatic, this gentleman was well known in the community and the caving community."
School extends condolences
In a statement released on Friday, Newman College Principal Lucie McCrory said the thoughts of the school community were with the man's family and friends.
Dr McCrory said the students and teachers had returned to Perth late last night.
"The College has deployed all necessary resources to support the wellbeing and pastoral care of students and staff who have been impacted by this tragic incident," she said.
"Police have praised the conduct of our staff and students and their response to the emergency services."
She said the school would continue to assist police and WorkSafe with their investigation into the man's death.
WorkSafe has attended the scene and all the agencies involved will be filing a report to the coroner.
Augusta Margaret River Shire President Paula Cristoffanini said the community was still processing the tragic event.
"We lost a much-loved member of our community," she said.
"I would like to send our condolences to his family and friends.
"Our community is very close-knit and very resilient, so now is the time to get together, support each other and support his family and friends."
Sergeant Taplin said the man was a father to a young family and the community had already rallied around them to support.
"We are respecting the privacy of the family, they are devastated," she said.
Emergency personnel and colleagues of the man were able to provide guidance and instruction to safely recover him, as well as students and teachers from the bottom of the cave.
