Daniel Lloyd, left, and Hugo Wenn were found dead in a Canterbury pond

by Gerry Warren

A coroner has decided the party drug methoxetamine did contribute to the deaths of Hugo Wenn and Daniel Lloyd, who drowned in a Canterbury pond.

Verdicts of misadventure have been recorded in both cases, but the parents of 17-year-old Hugo say there still remains many unanswered questions.

Robert and Fiona Wenn, from Barham, had hoped the hearing at Sandwich Guildhall would shed more light on the tragedy - and particularly how the pair came to be in the water.

Mr Wenn said: "Unfortunately, the only other person there on the night, Pat Connor, told the coroner he had also taken the drug and passed out by the water's edge. He said that when he came round there was no sign of either Hugo or Daniel.

"It means we will never know the reason how or why they went into the water, although it was January and they were fully-clothed so I don't imagine they went for a swim. But the drug clearly affected their judgement."

A forensics officer at the spot where the bodies were found in Reed Pond

A post mortem revealed both 25-year-old busker Daniel, from Wincheap, and part-time gardener Hugo, who was a former pupil of Archbishop's School and lived with his parents, died from drowning in the Reed Pond in January.

But tests showed they had both taken the party drug MXE, which is a synthetic version of the animal tranquiliser Ketamine and manufactured as a legal high. It is said to make users feel euphoric and disorientated.

MXE has now been placed on the temporary banned list by the Home Office while it is investigated by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

In her findings, coroner Rebecca Cobb said that the victims' use of methoxetamine had contributed to their deaths.

The misadventure verdict means a victim had engaged in an activity considered risky.

Mr Wenn said: "I guess we knew deep down before the hearing that we wouldn't get all the answers and it will remain a mystery. It doesn't change anything in that we have lost Hugo, but it would have helped to know what actually happened."