Shaun Brotherston and Bradley Price were celebrating a birthday when it is thought they bought the drug
Two best friends died after mistakingly taking heroin while on holiday in Amsterdam, an inquest has heard.
Tragic pals Shaun Brotherston and Bradley Price were found slumped in a hotel room after travelling to the Dutch city to celebrate Shaun's birthday.
The pair were discovered dead next to a tray covered in white powder.
An inquest into their deaths heard how both were found in a 'non-responsive' state, one of them slumped lifelessly on a bed, the other collapsed on a desk.
Toxicology reports showed their blood had traces of opiates, and it is believed they bought the white heroin thinking it was cocaine.
Shaun, 21 and Bradley, 20 both from Plymouth, Devon, had travelled to Amsterdam to celebrate Shaun's 21st Birthday, and were last seen alive on November 22 on hotel CCTV.
Dutch police were called to the Apollo Museum Hotel in Amsterdam on November 25, 2014.
They were greeted by hotel staff, who told them of two hotel guests who were found in an 'unresponsive state' and the officers went to investigate.
The inquest heard how upon entering the room they found the two friends inside.
A report by Jamie J Jongkind-Woud, one of the police officers who attended the scene, was read out in the inquest into their deaths that was held in Plymouth, Devon.
Recounting the moment they discovered the duo, the statement read: “There was a grey tray with white powder on the side with a card on it. We thought it was probably cocaine.
"There was also different bottles of beer and spirits in the room."
After their deaths the Dutch authorities ordered toxicology reports to be performed, and found traces of opiates in the friends' urine, and later in the results of a blood test.
HM coroner for Plymouth and Devon Ian Arrow recorded the cause of death as an accidental drugs overdose.
He said: "I confirm the cause of death as an accidental drug overdose.
"(Shaun) was on holiday with a friend in Amsterdam. He was found dead in his hotel room. He had taken white heroin believing it was cocaine.
"(Bradley) was on holiday with a friend in Amsterdam. He was found dead in his hotel room. He had taken white heroin believing it was cocaine.
"I would like to offer my condolences to the family.
"I would like to comment on the hard work done by the Dutch authorities in this matter, and hope that they have prevented further deaths, so that some good thing can come from these deaths."
Police investigations into the origin of the drugs is ongoing, but following the deaths the Dutch authorities have undertaken an awareness drive, notifying people of the dangers of white heroin.