Inquest finds teenager accidently drowned in quarry

An inquest has concluded that a teenager accidentally drowned at a former quarry on private property.

Mohammed Zuwaid, who was born in Kuwait, was 18 years old when he died on 25 August at Chinnor Quarry, Oxfordshire.

Coroner Nicholas Graham said he had jumped into deep water from a height being unable to swim.

In recent years, people have been warned to stay away from the site, also known as Old Kiln Lakes, after it became a popular spot for people swimming in its "highly toxic" water pools.

The report further reveals Mr Zuwaid was a professional bodybuilder and resided in London.

As he jumped into the water, he "immediately got into difficulty and was unable to return to safety".

Coroner Graham adds that rescue attempts by companions were "unsuccessful" and emergency services recovered Mr Zuwaid's body several hours later.

In 2020, owners of the former quarry Taylor Wimpey was forced to deploy security guards with dogs to patrol the site and prevent trespassers.

A small part of the site is a publicly accessible nature reserve, whilst the remainder is fenced off with warning signs.

The quarry's steep edges and deep water in its fenced-off section, named by locals as the "blue lagoon", presented a "number of health and safety risks", Taylor Wimpey previously told the BBC.

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