This is Kent --A TUNBRIDGE Wells man died at a music festival after slashing his arms while suffering a paranoid reaction to what he thought was a "legal high", an inquest has heard.
At September's Bestival event on the Isle of Wight, Daniel Parks, 35, took a substance named Magic Crystals, with his wife.
The couple did not know that they contained the banned drug 4-Methylethcathinone, an inquest heard on Tuesday.
Legal highs are substances used like illegal drugs such as cocaine or cannabis, but not covered by current misuse of drugs laws, and so are legal to possess or to use.
Mr Parks was described as having a paranoid reaction to the drug he took and was found by his wife locked in their campervan toilet in a distressed state, having cut his arms several times with a kitchen knife.
He was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Newport, where he died as a result of loss of blood caused by the deep cuts to his arms.
Recording a narrative verdict, Isle of Wight Coroner Caroline Sumeray said: "He had purchased what he believed to be 'legal highs' via the internet prior to attending the festival.
"Unbeknownst to him, the 'Magic Crystals' which he purchased were, in fact, a prohibited substance, believed to be 4-Methylethcathinone.
"Daniel had consumed legal highs on a number of occasions prior to this event, notably in April 2012 when he suffered an adverse reaction resulting in an emergency admission to accident and emergency, but he self-discharged prior to seeing any doctor on that occasion.
"Daniel and his wife consumed these 'Magic Crystals' on Thursday, September 6, 2012 whilst at the Bestival festival and Daniel suffered a paranoid reaction. Daniel's mood was subdued thereafter and had improved by Saturday, September 8, 2012, when he enjoyed some cider and pizza.
"Daniel and his wife retired to their campervan at 9.30 pm that evening and his wife fell asleep.
"Daniel locked himself in the campervan's toilet/shower cubicle and inflicted a number of serious wounds to both lower arms with a large sharp kitchen knife."
Mr Parks' family was unavailable for comment. Reported by This is 3 days ago.