Duke’s award defends its safety record

Organisers of the Duke of Edinburgh award today insisted the scheme had an "exemplary safety record" after the Earl of Wessex suggested the risk of death attracted young people to it.

Prince Edward, promoting the award in Australia, was asked about the death of Sydney 17-year-old David Iredale in the Blue Mountains three years ago. He had believed the hike would go towards his silver Duke of Edinburgh award.

The prince did not speak specifically about the case, but remarked that interest in the scheme jumped after the death of a teenager in Britain years ago.

The DofE said: "The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has an exemplary safety record and has no record of a death of a DofE participant in the UK as a direct result of their DofE expedition."