THE parents of a boy who drowned in a lagoon spoke of their grief for their son after his final moments were told to an inquest.

Nicholas Wetton, known as Nicky, of Mavis Drive, Coppull, drowned in the Blue Lagoon reservoir, Belmont, on August 18.

The 17-year-old, a former pupil of Holy Cross RC High School, Chorley, and Runshaw College, Leyland, had visited the popular picnic spot with his friends on a hot summer day.

An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard that he had wanted to swim out to an island in the centre of the lagoon.

His friend Stephen Treadwell, 17, of Smith Street, Chorley, told the hearing he had desperately fought to save Nicholas and pull him to the side.

Nicholas's mother, Carol, told the inquest how she and her husband had rushed to the scene after receiving a frantic call from another friend, Kelly Stewart.

By the time they reached the reservoir, police divers were searching for him in the water.

Nicky was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination revealed that he had drowned. Preston Coroner Howard McCann recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking after the hearing Carol and Nicholas's father, Darren Wetton, said they wanted to warn other young people to resist the temptation to swim in such waters. Mr Wetton said: "It is a so-called beauty spot but people just don't know what is lurking beneath the water.

"We took some photographs when we revisited the scene on Nicky's birthday, and because the water level was lower we could see old trolleys and even vehicles in the lagoon.

"People don't know what they are getting themselves into.

"If I had known then what I know now I would never have let Nicky go there.

"We want to warn other youngsters not to go near the water. We have lost a loving son. It was a tragic loss that we don't want to happen again."