A 22-YEAR-OLD man who drowned after jumping into a deep quarry pool was last night described as "well liked and loved" by his grieving mother.

Andrew Cousins left home in high spirits to go to Greenfoot Quarry, at Stanhope, Weardale, County Durham, to celebrate his friend's birthday.

But the day ended in tragedy when Mr Cousins stripped off and jumped from a quarry ledge into the water - failing to resurface.

A Northumbria Police diving team was called in to search for Mr Cousins, at just after 2pm on Saturday. His body was recovered three hours later.

Yesterday, his shocked mother, Angela Hansom, who he lived with in Wilson Street, Crook, County Durham, said that Mr Cousins was very popular and would be sadly missed.

She said: "He lived life to the full. He was adventurous and always the life and soul of the party.

"He never had any enemies. He was well liked and loved by so many people. I don't know what it is going to be like for everybody without him."

Mrs Hansom said that Mr Cousins' stepfather, Philip, brother Carl, 18, stepbrother Dean, 17, and stepsister Hayley, 15, were devastated.

She said: "We are such a close-knit family. He was very close to his brothers and sister. We are going to miss him."

Mr Cousins worked with his father, Trevor, in the family business, C and C Block Paving, in Newton Aycliffe.

Known as "Cuz", his mother said he was never without his baseball cap and loved partying and going out with his friends.

On Saturday morning, he and close friends John Pilkington and David Blair decided to go to the quarry to celebrate David's 22nd birthday.

Mrs Hansom said: "They were all here on Saturday morning laughing and joking. John is visiting from America. They did not leave here until 1pm.

"It all happened so quickly. His friends are really upset."

A police spokesman said: "Although we are still investigating this sudden death by speaking to Andrew's friends, who were present when he apparently jumped into the water from the quarry edge, at the moment there are no suspicious circumstances."

The tragedy has sparked calls from firefighters and police for people to be more aware of dangers when going into the water on hot summer days.

Station officer Stuart Errington, who attended the accident, said: "This is the second fatality we have had in the region in three weeks.

"People do not seem to realise that, even though the weather is warm the water can be extremely cold and that is enough to put your body into shock and make you struggle. It is extremely hazardous to jump into any water course - rivers, lakes, quarries, whatever."

Twelve-year-old Liam Robinson, from Ferryhill, drowned on May 28 after getting into difficulties when he tried to swim across the River Wear at Sunderland Bridge, near Durham.

Acting Inspector Chris Thompson, of Bishop Auckland police, said: "Particularly at this time of year when it is warm, any stretch of water can look enticing and inviting. But people do not know what they are jumping into."