Dave Hunt and Mark Ganley died in Cambodia after drugs mistake

Dave Hunt

Thursday 18th June 2009

By Clare Kennedy »

TWO SAINTS fans died after snorting a lethal form of heroin thinking it was cocaine while on holiday in Cambodia, an inquest was told today.

The bodies of company director Mark Ganley, 33, who lived in Thailand but was originally from Southampton, and journalist David Hunt, 36, of Cavendish Grove, Southampton, were found at the Royal Highness Hotel in the country's capital city Phnom Penh on February 17.

A plastic bag with 0.13g of white powder - later revealed to be heroin - and a 2,000 reil note wrapped into a tube were found in the room.

Relatives of Mr Ganley said they were told the white powder was "China White" - a particular strong form of heroin.

Detective Constable Annie Hodge, a drugs intelligence officer with Hampshire Police, said: "'In my opinion we have very naive drug users, we didn't have experienced drug users, in that room.

"It is my opinion that these two young men snorted what they thought was a line of cocaine when in fact it was China White. "

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of accidental death for both men and sent his condolences to the men's families.