By Brian Farmer
THE final "horrific'' hours in the life of a student who collapsed at a nightclub after taking ecstasy were today revealed at an inquest. Lorna Spinks, 19, a sociology study at Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, died in hospital in May, 36 hours after becoming ill at a nightclub in the city.

Coroner David Morris was told how in the hours before her death Miss Spinks had foamed at the mouth, how her body temperature had risen to 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit - nearly 10 degrees above normal - and how she had a look of ''sheer fright'' on her face.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Mr Morris said the tragedy served as a warning to all about the unpredictable dangers of ecstasy.

Miss Spinks, who grew up in a French village near Geneva, was an experienced taker of ecstasy, the inquest heard.

She and a group of student friends had bought a batch of green tablets marked with a euro symbol from another student for the visit to The Junction nightclub.

None of the group realised the tablets, for which they paid £6 each, were one and a half times the usual strength and took effect much more quickly than normal ecstasy.

It was thought Miss Spinks - who was believed to have hidden the ecstasy in her bra - took either half a tablet or a whole one, the inquest was told. Friends of Miss Spinks told how she became ill in the pub and was taken to hospital.

Student Dan Edwards told the coroner: ''I saw Lorna come towards me. She gave me a hug. Her skin was so hot all over. Her words were not coming out correctly.''

Mr Edwards said security staff called an ambulance and Miss Spinks was taken away.

''Lorna was squirming so violently they had to strap her down,'' added Mr Edwards. ''She was also foaming at the mouth.''

Consultant Ian McKenzie said the drug had also thinned Miss Spinks' blood so she was bleeding profusely internally and externally and left her limbs rigid.

''Her blood was not clotting at all. It was as if she had water running through her veins. She was bleeding through every needle puncture."

Mr Morris admitted to being bewildered by the drug culture.

''In a university town you have a high preponderance of intelligent people who seem to act unintelligibly when it comes to these matters. No-one should forget the terrible ordeal which Miss Spinks had endured," the coroner added. ''The effects were horrific. It was not a nice way to die.''

Miss Spinks' father Alan, 53, an engineer who also lives near Geneva, said afterwards he hoped young people would learn lessons from his daughter's death.

''It is futile to say 'don't take ecstasy, don't take drugs'. But you just don't know what you are going to get."

Mr Spinks is considering launching a poster campaign to highlight the dangers of ecstasy.