A MOTHER has spoken out after her son died in his best friend's arms after taking drugs.

Yesterday Andrew Cox, the deputy coroner for Plymouth, ruled that Mark Richards from Devonport accidently died from a toxic combination of stimulants on top of a mild case of lymphocytic meningitis.

His devastated mother, Alison Wadlan, told The Herald: "I wouldn't want any other mother to have to go through this and I hope what happened to him might make other people think.

"He wasn't someone who used drugs all the time – I wouldn't want people to think of him that way.

"We all miss him like mad."

The 21-year-old was described by friends at the inquest as a 'cheeky chappy with a heart of gold' who would always be there to 'cheer you up'.

He had taken a combination of what was believed to be MDMA, a form of ecstasy, as well as mephedrone, known as bubble, during and after a party in Barne Barton, the inquest heard.

He had been with a group of friends including his best friend, Martyn Joryeff, at his flat in Duke Street when he started rolling round on the floor.

Mr Joryeff said he seemed happy, but then it 'got out of control'.

"We put a duvet round him to stop him from hurting himself and then he seemed to fall asleep," Mr Joryeff said.

He told the inquest, held in The Crescent, that they moved him to his bed but his eyes started to roll into the back of his head and he didn't seem able to swallow water.

"He seemed to come round but it was really weird and he started making no sense, like he was speaking a different language," said Mr Joryeff.

"He then came round and asked what had happened. We said 'Mark, you really scared us'."

"Then he just laid back and seemed to die in my arms."

Paramedics and police were called but he was declared dead at his home in the early hours of July 17, last year.

The coroner said the case was 'not straight forward' and Dr Morley, one of the country's leading pathologists, had described the chemicals in his system as 'highly unusual'.

A range of substances were detected in his system including 124 micrograms of 'Illegal X' per litre of blood.

Mr Cox said there wasn't enough reliable literature and data on the drugs consumed to really understand the level at which they became toxic.

"No-one knows about these drugs because they're changing all the time and affect people differently," he said.

"He probably had a viral illness but the drugs then increased the risk of him having a seizure."

He gave a verdict of accidental death with the immediate cause of death being toxic effects of illicit stimulants. A contributing role was recorded as part 2 viral lymphocytic meningitis.

Martyn Joryeff said: "I've lost my mate and I miss him but God has gained an angel."