AN INQUEST into the death of firefighter Paul Metcalf who drowned in a Bury lodge last year is to start on Monday (Sept 4).

Only a day short of the first anniversary of the tragedy, Coroner Mr Barrie Williams will conclude the investigation into how a rescue operation to recover the body of student Reyaz Ali from Simon's Lodge at Holcombe went wrong.

Sub-officer Metcalf was with colleagues searching for the Darul Uloom Islamic College student, who had failed to surface after plunging into the lodge.

Mr Metcalf (40) got into difficulties when his safety line became snagged on an underwater obstacle.

Coroner Mr Williams will also conclude the inquest into the death of the student.