A pupil collapsed outside school grounds and was taken to hospital after puffing on a vape that had been laced with a potentially deadly synthetic drug.

The teenager had just finished for the day at Herne Bay High when another youngster handed him the illegal device by the gates.

But immediately after inhaling the pupil fell to the pavement.

“The student became very unwell, very quickly, to the point he collapsed,” said principal Jon Boyes in a letter to parents.

“Staff patrolling outside school managed to intervene, getting the emergency services to the scene very quickly where clinical interventions were required before the student was taken to hospital.

“It has come to light that fluid in the vape had been purchased online from an unregistered source and we have been informed by clinicians that the product is a THC based-product which contained Spice - a highly dangerous drug.”

Spice, also known as K2 and Black Mamba, is a synthetic cannabinoid, which is illegal in the UK. The latest available data from the Office for National Statistics shows 169 people died from "poisoning" from synthetic cannabinoids between 2018 and 2020.

Following the episode on February 29, the school contacted police, who are said to be investigating the supply chain of the illegal product.

It is the policy of the Herne Bay High - which is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted - that “vapes and vaping have no place in school”.

And Mr Boyes has urged parents to discuss the dangers of vaping with their children.

“Fortunately, in this incident, the student has recovered, however, the clinical team that attended informed us they have had to deal with fatalities from the same/similar products,” continued the head teacher.

“We shall collaborate closely with the police and continue our in-school education into safe and healthy lifestyle choices.”

Data from the Action on Smoking and Health charity reveals that the the number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years and that currently 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds vape on a regular basis.

In January, the government announced plans to ban disposable vapes and regulate the marketing, packaging and flavours for liquids for non-disposables.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “Police in Herne Bay have been made aware of a medical incident in Bullockstone Road on February 29 which was reportedly caused by drugs in a vape.

“Officers from the district's Child Centred Policing Team carried out enquiries, speaking to those involved and giving them advice on the risks associated with illegal substances.

“Details of the incident have been recorded to assist officers should any similar reports be received.”

A KentOnline investigation in 2022 exposed how illegal vapes were being sold by at least five retailers in Canterbury’s high street.

Just weeks later, hundreds of the devices were seized from city centre stores in raids by Trading Standards, police and the city council.

The vapes we revealed were on sale boasted a liquid capacity of 10ml – five times the legal limit – and none have been checked by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Herne Bay High was asked to comment on the incident outside the school.