Two pals died of heroin overdose after ‘taking it by mistake’ on overseas rugby tour in Sri Lanka

TWO pals died of a heroin overdose on an overseas rugby tour after taking it by mistake, an inquest heard.

Thomas Howard, 25, and Thomas Baty, 26, were “naive” about drugs and probably thought they bought something else.

The best friends were in Sri Lanka for a tour with Durham’s Clems Pirates team which raises money for good causes.

They fell ill at their hotel after getting a tuk-tuk back from a nightclub in Colombo.

Mr Howard died a few hours later and Mr Baty passed away after two days in a coma.

CCTV of them emerging from Mr Baty’s room shows Mr Howard stumbling and weaving.

Police were given ­conflicting evidence from tuk-tuk drivers involved in the heroin supply.

Teammates said they had never heard either man talk of drugs.

Mr Baty was business development manager with Mr Howard’s own workwear firm.

Durham coroner Crispin Oliver said it was likely “they bought something they thought was something other than heroin”. He concluded they died accidentally from opiate toxicity.

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