A FORMER Worcester schoolgirl who died taking part in an extreme sport was not briefed about how to escape in an emergency, a court was told.

Emily Jordan, of Trim-pley, near Bewdley, was riverboarding in the Kawarau River Gorge near Queenstown on New Zealand’s south island in April last year.

The former Alice Ottley School (which has now merged with the Royal Grammar School) student became trapped between rocks and drowned. Now 16 months since the accident, the adventure trip operator and its director are standing trial over health and safety failings.

During the first day of the trial yesterday, the court was told how employees of Mad Dog River Boarding did not tell the group how to escape if they got trapped.

The court was also told how company director Brad McLeod’s boat carried neither throw-bags nor ropes the day 21-year-old Miss Jordan died.McLeod and his company face three charges each over Miss Jordan’s death, including failing to ensure the actions or inaction of employees did not harm Miss Jordan Other charges, which have been laid under the Health and Safety Employment Act 1992, are failure to take all practical steps to ensure the safety of employees and the prevention of possible hazards.

The hearing is expected to last five days.