Why did they let him in? Father of Oxbridge hopeful, 16, who died after taking Ecstasy in a nightclub blasts security staff

Gifted: Joe Simons was thought to have taken Ecstasy for the first time, it has emerged

The father of a teenager who died after taking Ecstasy has blamed his son's death on the 'hedonistic and destructive culture of drug-taking'.

Tom Simons, a 51-year-old deputy head teacher, said his son Joe was underage and should not have even been allowed into the nightclub where he took the class A drug and later died.

Joe SImons, a 16-year-old GCSE student who dreamed of going to Oxbridge, allegedly dabbled with Ecstasy for the first time while on a night out in Bristol.

He was let into the popular dance night with a group of friends - despite being underage and having no valid ID.

The bright teenager, who was awarded nine A* grades in his GCSEs, collapsed and died hours after taking Ecstasy, thought to have been bought from a club reveller.

Authorities suspended the license of club Lakota, in Bristol, last month after his death - but after a police investigation made no arrests - it has been allowed to re-open.

Heartbroken Mr Simons, who lost his wife - Tom's mother - to cancer three years ago, said his son's death was 'totally avoidable' and criticised the club's security staff for letting him inside.

He also blasted the 'hedonistic and destructive culture of drug-taking' allowed to flourish in nightclubs.

Mr Simons said: 'Joe's death is a terrible tragedy, but it was not a random act of God. His death was totally avoidable.

'Joe should never have been allowed admittance to the Lakota club that night, and had his ID been checked it would have been very clear that he was underage.

Sporty: As well as being academically talented, Joe also played hockey, rugby and cricket

'My son had no valid ID on him whatsoever. He should never have been in the position where he could purchase drugs.

'Joe died, in part, because the system failed to protect him that night and it seems to me that this is, at least in part, due to indifference to the hedonistic and destructive culture of drug-taking that seems to be more and more a routine part of nightlife for young people.'

Gifted Joe, from Bitton, near Bristol, who aspired to go to Oxford or Cambridge University, was dropped off at a mates house in Bath by his dad on April 30.

The name 'Ecstasy' is laughable... 'Agony' would be more more appropriate

The sporty student - who played hockey, rugby and cricket - then headed to Lakota's Tribe of Frog dance night, in the Stokes Croft area of the Bristol. But he never made it home from the York Street venue.

He was rushed to intensive care at Bristol Royal Infirmary in the early hours of May 1 and died the following day.

Toxicology reports have not yet been returned to the coroner, but it is suspected Joe took an Ecstasy in powder form - bought from a reveller inside the club.

It is understood a number of witness statements say the teenager did not take drugs with him to the venue.

When Mr Simons arrived at the hospital to see his son, he was told Joe's chances of survival were very slim. He died shortly after.

The doctors and nurses who battled to save his life were reduced to tears.

It was the second tragedy to hit the family, after Joe's mum Brenda died from lung cancer three years ago.

Scrutiny: The Lakota is to be the subject of a licence review, which will be carried out by Bristol City Council

Mr Simons said: 'What kept going through my mind - it was almost laughable - was the acronym being used for the drug was "Ecstasy" when actually, "Agony" would've been much more appropriate.

'The pain that parents go through in situations like this is just indescribable and if I had any wish, it would be that someone reads this article and it saves a life.

'He was a fantastic kid - a talented and gifted student with a bright future ahead of him.'

One of three children, Joe achieved 12 GCSEs - nine of which were A* grades and he finished top of his year for maths.

The talented young actor hoped to go to Oxford or Cambridge University after finishing his A levels at Beechen Cliff sixth form, in Bath.

It's not a safe drug. It took a 16-year-old boy from being perfectly healthy to being dead within 36 hours

Mr Simons, deputy head at Joe's former school, Prior Park College in Bath, warned that dabbling with Ecstasy was like rolling a roulette wheel.

He said: 'He was not a drug addict. It was quite possibly the first time he ever tried that.

'This is not a safe drug. It took a 16-year-old boy from being perfectly healthy to being dead within 36 hours.

'People need to wake up to this and it's not the parents - it's the children.

'The 16 and 17-year-olds need to know that when they go out and take these recreational drugs like Ecstasy they are rolling a roulette wheel and when they are unlucky, like Joe was.'

Prior Park's headmaster James Murphy-O'Connor said young Joe had 'huge potential'.

He said: 'Joe had great qualities and huge potential and his untimely death is a grievous loss.' Lakota's licence was suspended last month, but the club has been allowed to reopen this weekend.

On Monday, a licence review will be carried out by Bristol City Council's licensing sub-committee - which could suspend the club further.

Its owner Marti Burgess said: 'First and foremost, our greatest sympathies go to the family and friends of the deceased.

'As a nightclub and long-standing member of the community, we take the welfare of our customers very seriously and consequently we are conducting our own thorough investigation.

'We will continue to work with the police in connection with their enquiries as to how this incident occurred and do everything we can to support them.'