A teenage girl died after consuming a cocktail of drugs while on a night out, an inquest has heard.

Sophie Pearce, 17, was found unresponsive at her family home in Dover by her brother, after a concerned friend asked him to check on her.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene and managed to resuscitate her, but she tragically died later the same day in hospital.

Her death was treated as 'unexplained' by police at the time of the incident on Saturday May 25, 2019.

However, in the inquest at County Hall in Maidstone today, area coroner Katrina Hepburn revealed the student's death was due to multiple organ failure caused by mixed drugs toxicity.

Almost nine months after her death following extensive delays in gathering evidence, it was revealed Ms Pearce had gone out with friends, having made a cocktail of drugs that included a large amount of morphine.

It is understood she and two friends had returned to her house in Beaconsfield Avenue in the early morning having taken the drugs.

All three fell asleep, and upon waking, both friends attempted to rouse Ms Pearce, but were unsuccessful.

Eventually, the friends left after putting her into the recovery position, assuming she was still sleeping off the effects of the drugs as she was noticeably breathing at that point.

However, they became increasingly concerned for her and one sent a text message to her brother to ask him to check on her.

The brother did so, and immediately called for an ambulance after finding her unresponsive, without a pulse and not breathing.

Ambulance and police services attended and she was brought to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford after being resuscitated.

Ms Pearce, who went to Folkestone School for Girls and then Canterbury College, was described by Ms Hepburn as "clearly a popular young lady with an incredible amount of potential".

She said: "This is a case that will stay with me, having spent so long going over the statements of so many of her friends, family and colleagues and seeing how much she impacted everyone around her.

"This was an incredibly tragic incident and I do hope the family accept my most sincere condolences."

Her uncle Mike Pearce paid a heartfelt tribute to his niece on Facebook, saying she was going to "rule the world" before her death, which is being treated as unexplained by police.

He said: "I remember the day you were born and I'll remember every day and every smile in between.

"You were truly amazing and I'll love you always..."

"I'll remember you constantly pulling my hair as a baby then to asking me for doc martens so you could be cool at school.

"I'll remember you calling me uncle Ninal because you couldn't say my name.

"I'll remember taking you to your first gig just so I could be the cool uncle.

"I'll remember how you were going to rule the world with your sass and [sic] Witt.

"I'll remember you being so bright and beautiful but it breaks my heart so much that you have gone.

"We will meet again someday but for now rest easy Sophie and know I'll never forget you and your smile.

"You were truly amazing and I'll love you always, your Uncle Ninal."

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