A GRIEVING mum whose son died in agony after taking Ecstasy has slammed actor Stephen Fry for saying everyone should try it once.

Heather Ashton of Blackpool has written to the Oscar Wilde star condemning his interview with film magazine Neon, in which he said the drug was "impressive" and "everyone should try everything once."

"Once could be too much," said Mrs Ashton, who launched an anti-drugs campaign with the slogan One Pill Can Kill following the death of 17-year-old Daniel two years ago.

"We had to sit watching him deteriorate on a life-support machine for 11 hours, it was the worst horror story you could ever see," said Mrs Ashton, of Milbourne Street.

"His body literally boiled up inside, his temperature was so high they couldn't get it down, his lungs, heart, liver, kidneys were so inflamed, he was bleeding internally and externally, blood was pouring from his nose, his eyes, every little cut he had on his body.

"We had to watch him die in agony. Kids say to me now, we didn't realise this could happen. It happened to Danny.

"Doctors told me afterwards he had one Ecstasy tablet in his system and a small amount of amphetamine.

"You just don't know what's in them or how your body will react, that's the danger, and that's why it's so wrong for people like Stephen Fry, who are in the public eye, to say things like this."

Mrs Ashton's anti-drugs group DANIEL (Drugs And Narcotics Impact on Everyone's Lives) pushes the message that people can have a great life without drugs.

Stephen Fry's agent said he would make no further comment about the matter.

Danny's friends, who set up an anti-drugs soccer team in his name, are appealing for a permanent pitch. See page four.

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