• Alex Heriot, 19, collapsed in the main area at the RockNess festival at Dores, on the shores of Loch Ness, on Saturday night
  • Before festival he had tweeted: 'To say I am excited for RockNess 2012 is an absolute understatement'
  • Two other festival goers believed to be friends of the dead teenager described as being in a ‘comfortable’ condition
  • Benzo Fury can be bought wholesale over the internet and usually sells for 10 a pill, or 25 for three

By Jill Reilly

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A teenager died and two other festival-goers were hospitalised after apparently taking 'legal high' Benzo Fury at a Scottish music festival.

Alex Heriot, 19, collapsed in the main area at the RockNess festival at Dores, on the shores of Loch Ness, on Saturday night.

Mr Heriot, of Portobello, Edinburgh, was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but died in the early hours of yesterday.

Tragic: Alex Heriot, 19, left, collapsed in the main area at the RockNess festival at Dores, on the shores of Loch Ness, on Saturday night - it is believed he may have taken the legal high Benzo Fury, right

Hours later, a 19-year-old woman, and a 20-year-old man, believed to be friends of the dead teenager, were taken to hospital.

It is thought they may also have taken the 'legal high' Benzo Fury – a chemical available on the internet that police believe may be dangerous when taken with other substances or alcohol.

The man and woman are described as being in a ‘comfortable’ condition.

On Thursday, the teenager,had written on his Twitter webpage about how much he was looking forward to the festival

On Thursday, the teenager, had written on his Twitter profile page about how much he was looking forward to the Scottish music festival

Tragic: Alex Heriot, 19, collapsed in the main area at the RockNess festival at Dores, on the shores of Loch Ness, on Saturday night

Festival: More than 30,000 people attended the weekend event and police said 144 revellers had been arrested over drug possession and one for dealing

Northern Constabulary confirmed Mr Heriot’s death is believed to be drug-related but would not say whether he had taken Benzo Fury.

Toxicology tests are being carried out to discover what substance or mixture, if any, was involved.

Benzo Fury can be bought wholesale over the internet and usually sells for 10 a pill, or 25 for three.

Mr Heriot's father told the Daily Record: 'We are still talking to the police liaison people and we are not sure of the full circumstances of what has happened.

'We are still struggling to take it in.'

Friends: Hours later, a 19-year-old woman and 20-year-old man, believed to be friends of the dead teenager, were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after taking the legal high

Friends: Hours later, a 19-year-old woman and 20-year-old man, believed to be friends of the dead teenager, were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness

WHAT IS 'LEGAL HIGH 'BENZO FURY?

‘Legal highs’ are substances which produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. 

There are a large number of 'legal highs' - some are known by their brand/product name, such as Benzo Fury and it's not always clear what's in these products and their contents can change regularly.

Tablets lying on a person's palm, extreme close-up

Benzo Fury is a man-made amphetamine which can give users a euphoric high.

It induces feelings of empathy similar to Class  A drug ecstasy.

Benzo Fury is also a stimulant and it's side effects include loss of appetite, hallucinations and paranoia.

Controversial 'legal highs' such as Benzo Fury and Ivory Wave are manufactured in laboratories in the Far East and eastern Europe.

They have become a popular alternative to illegal ecstasy and Meow Meow.

On Thursday, the teenager, who was studying at Jewel and Esk College in Dalkeith, Midlothian, had written on his Twitter webpage about how much he was looking forward to the festival, headlined by acts including Mumford & Sons.

He wrote: ‘To say I am excited for RockNess 2012 is an absolute understatement.’

More than 30,000 people attended the weekend event and police said 144 revellers had been arrested over drug possession and one for dealing.

Legal highs defeat sniffer dogs which are not trained to detect legal substances and so far no other Benzo Fury has been found.

Police and organisers minimised the risk of controlled drugs at the festival through measures, including searches and the use of drugs dogs as well as amnesty bins.

Event commander, Superintendent Stevie Mackay, said: 'Taking drugs or any medicines, which you have not been prescribed, is an extremely risky thing to do.

'People may think that legal highs are safe, because they are not classed as a controlled drug, but they are extremely dangerous.

'If anyone has the tablets described or any other drug, whether controlled or a 'legal high', in their possession, they are advised not to take them and to hand these in.

'Amnesty bins are available at the main Nesstival entrance or anyone can hand in substances to Crew 2000 at the welfare tent.'

‘Legal highs’ are substances which produce the same, or similar effects, to drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, but are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. 

There are a large number of 'legal highs' - some are known by their brand/product name, such as Benzo Fury and it's not always clear what's in these products and their contents can change regularly.

Legal high deaths: Hester Stewart's body, left, was found next to a bottle of GBL in a house in Brighton after a party while Lois Waters, right 24, is believed to have taken party drug mephedrone - known as meow meow - in the lead up to her death

In recent years there have been several highly publicised cases of young people dying after taking drugs which were legal highs.

Hester Stewart's body, 21, was found next to a bottle of GBL in a house in Brighton after a party in 2009, while Lois Waters, 24, is believed to have taken party drug mephedrone - known as meow meow - in the lead up to her death in 2009.

Both substances are now banned, but health professionals and police fear each time a drug is outlawed, a new alternative is introduced on to the market.

Benzo Fury is a man-made amphetamine which can give users a euphoric high and induces feelings of empathy similar to ecstasy.

It is also a stimulant and its side effects include loss of appetite, hallucinations and paranoia.

Controversial 'legal highs' such as Benzo Fury are usually produced in laboratories in the Far East and eastern Europe.

Fatal collision: Two men killed in a road crash on Friday that involved a bus taking people to RockNess have been named as Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28

Fatal collision: Two men killed in a road crash on Friday that involved a bus taking people to RockNess have been named as Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28

They have become a popular alternative to illegal ecstasy and the now banned drug meow meow.

Meanwhile two men killed in a road crash on Friday that involved a bus taking people to RockNess have been named.

A van driver and passenger died in the accident at Ralia, near  Newtonmore, Inverness-shire.
Northern Constabulary said the men were Mark McFarlane, 38, and Barry Murray, 28, decorators from the Glasgow area.

Meanwhile, police are anxious to trace Zoe McArthur, 18, of  Edinburgh, who was last seen on Saturday evening at the festival.