A STUDENT has drowned in Gullet Quarry just weeks after an appeal was made not to swim at the beauty spot.

Yunus Ismail Moolla, aged 17, began struggling in five metre deep water on Tuesday afternoon (July 3). Despite an operation involving police, the fire brigade, paramedics and the Air Ambulance, he could not be rescued.

A police diving team arrived at Castlemorton at 6.15pm, recovering his body just after 7pm.

Mr Moolla of Victoria Street, Gloucester, was on an outing organised by the city's Central Technology College. He was with friends when the accident happened.

A friend and a member of the public tried to save him.

"We went to the middle, and he went under," said eyewitness Daniel Higham, aged 17. "We tried to save him and I went to the bottom but I couldn't see anything."

In a statement, the college said: "Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers at this time are with Yunus' family. We are all devastated at the loss of a young life full of such promise."

The quarry is owned by Malvern Hills Conservators.

The incident comes only weeks after its director Ian Rowat warned of the dangers of swimming in Gullet Quarry.

As well as being deep, the water is also very cold and there is a large amount of debris under the surface.

Ian Seward, Station Officer at Malvern Fire Station, said: "He'd been under water for 20 minutes before we arrived and it was not possible to attempt a rescue."

Divers had to be brought from Bridgend, South Wales, to recover Mr Moolla's body. There are six trained divers in the Upton unit of the Severn Area Rescue Association but the unit is awaiting clearance from West Mercia Police to become operational.

Half an hour before Mr Moolla's death, a similar tragedy involving a young man unconnected with the college had been narrowly averted. He was rescued by a member of the public after jumping into the quarry from the cliff, getting into similar difficulties.

"Had the gentleman not been there, he'd have been the first tragedy of the day," said Mr Seward.

In July 1995, Clifford James, also of Gloucester, drowned at the quarry while celebrating his 25th birthday with friends. The previous month, a 23-year-old had been saved by two teenagers.

Station Officer Seward advised extreme caution when visiting similar sites.

"By all means visit the area but do not enter the water for a swim. It's very, very cold and the water will sap your energy," he said.

An inquest was opened yesterday (July 5) and adjourned.