A remote Amazonian tribe have expressed their regret to the family of a British backpacker who died after taking their traditional hallucinogenic drugs, an inquest has heard.

Henry Miller quickly fell ill after taking part in a ceremony with a local tribe in Colombia where he drank yage, also known as ayahuasca, which brings on vivid hallucinations and supposedly spiritual experiences.

The inquest into his death heard that ritual leader Shaman Guillermo, his wife Mama Concha, their son and his friend, have since been put on trial by the local indigenous community following Mr Miller's death.

In a letter to his family, they shared their remorse. It was also revealed the group have been ordered to undergo punishment with nettles after the 19-year-old died in 2014.

Avon Coroner's Court heard that Mr Miller, from Kingsdown, Bristol, had taken part in two ceremonies within three days of each other led by Shaman Guillermo and his wife Mama Concha.

The student, described as a “curious young man” who was interested in Colombian culture, was found dead by a rural road outside Mocoa, the capital of the Putumayo region, on April 23, 2014.

After drinking the psychedelic brew and falling ill, Shaman Guillermo told his son and a friend to take Mr Miller to a hospital on a motorcycle.