A drug addict died of an overdose at a friend's home in Middlesbrough, an inquest heard.

Christopher Laurence Hird, 21, of Quenby Road, Billingham, died from a heroin overdose in Eden Road, Grove Hill, on November 18 last year, despite paramedics' lifesaving efforts.

Friends in another room in the house heard a thud after Mr Hird collapsed onto the bedroom floor after injecting himself with the drug.

But they did not realise what had happened until they discovered him lying on the floor about 15 minutes later.

Emergency services were called and he was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Teesside Coroner's Court heard how Mr Hird had managed to beat his addiction during a spell in Northallerton Young Offenders' Institution, but after his release he had slipped back into using the drug. As a result of imprisonment, his tolerance level for the drug had dropped and that played a part in his death.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of misadventure, saying: "I'm satisfied that he intended to take the heroin but did not intend to produce the result that it tragically did."