A FAMILY was hit by a third tragedy in a year after a teenager died of an overdose, an inquest was told yesterday.

Eighteen-year-old Leanne Brown, from Loftus, died in July, six months after her three-year-old brother Tyran died of meningitis, and a year after losing her baby.

The inquest at Teesside Coroner's Court heard that Leanne became a user of heroin following the series of tragedies -which included surviving a car-crash in which her 23-year-old friend Lee Winspear was killed.

In a statement read to the court, her sister, Laura Brown, said: "We had been living together for the past eight months and we were very close and would talk about things we would never discuss with anybody else.

"Leanne told me she had been using heroin and had been for the past 12 months.

"She knew the heroin she was taking was risky."

Leanne was taken to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on July 2, after being found unconscious by her sister in her bedroom. She died a day later.

Detective Sergeant Nicholas Owen, of Redcar police, told the inquest: "Leanne lost a young baby tragically during 2003, which led to her use of drugs.

"On July 2, she and her boyfriend went into Redcar and bought five bags of heroin. They took some straight away before making their way to her sister's house to take some more.

"No charges have been brought by the police in connection with Leanne's death."

Michael Sheffield, coroner, said: "This reveals the very sad case of another teenager who succumbed to the effects of taking heroin with no intention of taking her own life.

"It appears the tragic loss she sustained in 2003 played a part in encouraging her to take heroin.

"It was taken in Redcar town centre and then again at her sister's house.

"She intended to take heroin but had no intention of it proving fatal, which it tragically did. I am satisfied she died of a heroin overdose."

Mr Sheffield recorded a verdict of misadventure.