THE narcotic effects of nitrogen on scuba divers could be the reason why three men, including one from Warrington, died in a North Wales quarry, a coroner said yesterday.

Dubbed the pool of death, Dorothea Quarry in the Nantlle Valley claimed the three lives in separate accidents, an inquest heard.

Coroner Dewi Pritchard-Jones said the common factor in the tragedies, and "far too many" other fatalities he had dealt with involving the quarry, was nitrogen narcosis.

He recorded verdicts of accidental death on the three men.

Jon Hepherd, 53, a manager, of Charminster Close, Warrington died last December after he got into difficulties in a tunnel nearly 60 metres down. His friend Lyndon Taylor, of Cuddington, Northwich, tried in vain to save him.

Henry Le Coz, a 36-year-old furniture maker of Bath, vanished in the pool, which is more than 300ft deep in November 2001.

Michael Gott, 52, a shop fitter of Whitfield Avenue, Glossop, drowned the following month. The inquest heard he had reached a depth of 49 metres.
