Teenager Declan Edwards Found Hanged after 'Mad Weekend' of Drugs

A schoolboy was found hanged from a tree following a drug-fuelled 'mad weekend' with pals.

Declan Edwards, 16, died after taking the class A drug MDMA and amphetamines in a binge which began at a house party.

An inquest into the Burnley teenager's death heard he was in a group who took 35 pills similar to ecstasy and up to five grams of amphetamines.

Edwards and others continued partying the following night by taking more drugs and drink in a park. During the revelry, he ran off from the group and was later found hanging from a tree in a "very, very secluded" spot, reported the Lancashire Telegraph.

His mother Mandy called the drug taking "out of character" for her son who she said was a "loving, caring boy."

She told the inquest: "I didn't know two of the friends. They just decided to have a mad weekend. It was out of character."

"He was a very loving, very caring boy. He was looking forward to his school prom."

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a narrative verdict, saying he did not believe Declan intended to kill himself.