Schoolboy dies after snorting £1 bag of heroin that he thought was cocaine

Francis Clapham, 16, bought the drug for £1 from a teenager in a park, an inquest heard.

But after sniffing the heroin with a friend he collapsed and was taken to hospital where he was put on a life-support machine.

The drug caused organ failure resulting in brain damage through oxygen starvation and he died two months later.

The inquest heard that Francis, who did not have a history of drug taking or dealing, was drinking vodka with a friend in a park in Nelson, Lancashire, when he decided to buy the drug.

Both teenagers collapsed after snorting the heroin.

His friend made a swift recovery and was discharged from Blackpool Victoria Hospital just two days later but Francis, a pupil at Fisher More High School, died in May last year in Burnley General Hospital.

Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter told the inquest the schoolboy contracted MRSA in hospital and had a reaction to antibiotics but would not have recovered from the brain damage he had already suffered.

Francis's brother, Andrew, 19, said: "He thought it was cocaine and said that he and his friend had taken some.

"I only saw him taking a line of it but he might have had some more in his pocket. We had an argument about the drugs and he stormed out.

Detective Constable Neil Morris, of Lancashire Police, said officers initially thought that Francis and his friend had been the victim of an assault in the park but further inquiries disproved this theory.

Mr Morris added: "The drug was bought for £1 to £2 in the park.

"Francis and his friend thought it was cocaine which is why they snorted it."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: "It was clearly an accident that he took a substance which he had no idea would end in his death.

"It was entirely down to the heroin he died."

In September last year, a 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was spared detention after admitting supplying heroin and possessing the drug with intent to supply.

Magistrates told him they believed he had not wilfully intended to cause harm to the the schoolboy, had no knowledge of drugs and had shown remorse.

They said a period of custody would not benefit anybody and that the boy was not a threat to the public though he had made a "grave error of judgment".

The court was told that Francis' parents Keith and Diane had requested that the youth was spared custody over the incident.

One friend, who set up a website in memory of the schoolboy, said: "He was a nice lad. He always had a big smile on his face. He made me laugh a lot."

Drug charities and police said Francis' death should send a warning to other teenagers about the dangers of drug use.

Harry Shapiro of Drugscope said: "This is a complete and utter tragedy for the family and friends of the individual involved.

"It just serves as a warning about the dangers of using heroin."