• 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.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

When something has Highly Toxic symbols and Not for Human Consumption signs on the packaging, you clearly don't take the stuff...What a waste of a young life! but really?

Sad - but he brought it on himself.

"It is thought they may also have taken the 'legal high' Benzo Fury" Silly question but since none was found and the Police have not mentioned any drugs he has taken why does the DM think he took Benzo Fury ?

These kids take legal highs because they are led to believe that they are safer than trying the real thing. Sadly, this is not the case. They just haven't been around long enough to be tested and banned. I actually believe that sniffer dogs at festival gates are worsening the problem. I'm not advocating the use of drugs or encouraging it in anyway but in many cases, those who bring a little weed or a gram of MDMA into a festival have used it before, know their supplier and know their limits. The fear of being arrested at the festival gates is driving these kids to try new things that no one else has tried or recommended. The fact that is a legal high later gives them false confidence that it is going to be weak and manageable when this is usually not the case.

Seems that it safer buying the real drugs from a local dealer than taking these 'legal highs'. What a tragic waste of young life, RIP.

The demand to get high is at an absolute peak in Austerity Broken Britain. Prohibition is being just as successful as it has always been. Far better to legalise ordinary strength Cannabis, control its quality and tax it so that we can actually afford better pensions etc etc I predict a clamp-down that will increase the value of drugs (surpressed supply) and increase the incentive to sell drugs..and so the cycle continues.

Is now a good time to remind Sally Bercow that she wants to give these drugs a try? An airhead who gets too much exposure, married to a deluded pipsqueak. I am not just posting a nasty comment; it is a serious point. These people have influence and they are demonstrably unqualified to run a coconut shy.

This makes me so furious! Yet another innocent life lost to prohibition. No doubt the prohibitionists will be demonstrating their glaring ignorance with comments like "one less druggie"... oh you poor, misguided, ill-informed sheeple! If this kid had been able to buy a safe stimulant from a controlled source then do you think he'd have taken this unknown substance? Of course not - the substance wouldn't even exist if it weren't for prohibition. "Why did he want or need to take anything?", I hear the prohibitionists cry; Because he's human, says I - the desire to experience altered states of consciousness is as ingrained on the human psyche as love. Prohibition is a crime against humanity. If it were done away with and a fraction of the money currently squandered were redirected into healthcare and education THEN we might see improvements... I fear it will never happen so long as the prohibitionists keep their heads (and blood-soaked hands) planted firmly in the sand.

Alcohol and "legal highs" are not enough... people want more... When tragedies like that happen there's no one to blame but the user. D'You want your right to decide? Take the consequences.

Yes you can ban these legal highs but they will only move on to other substances... You have to treat the person

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