British backpacker among five dead after Laos methanol poisoning
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A British traveler has passed away after being admitted to a hospital with suspected methanol poisoning, following claims that she was given complimentary drinks in Laos.
Simone White, a lawyer from Orpington in Kent, has become the fifth tourist to lose their life due to the incident that occurred in the Vang Vieng region.
Last week, she and her friend Bethany Clark, who also hails from Orpington, were both hospitalized. It has now come to light that four individuals – an Australian, an American, and two Danish nationals – passed away as a result of the incident in the popular backpacking destination.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that 19-year-old Bianca Jones passed away after being transported to a hospital in nearby Thailand. He also mentioned in parliament that a friend of the young woman, named Holly Bowles, was currently "fighting for her life."
New Zealand’s foreign ministry, noting that a New Zealander is among those affected, reported that there have been "multiple instances of potential methanol poisoning linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages."
In a Facebook group dedicated to backpacking in Laos on November 16, which has now been removed, Ms. Clarke posted a warning: "Important – steer clear of all local alcoholic drinks. Our group was in Vang Vieng and we accepted free shots from one of the bars."
"Just steer clear of them; they aren't worth the trouble. Right now, six of us who drank from the same source are in the hospital due to methanol poisoning."
She allegedly mentioned that she received care at a private hospital, where she had several infusions and took days to recuperate. It's unclear if she is still in the hospital.
It has been reported that several of the victims were staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel. Information started coming to light last week when some of the guests became sick after having drinks that were provided to them as part of a group activity in the isolated town.
On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the hostel, informed the Associated Press that staff members were alerted by other guests about two women who were feeling ill after not checking out as scheduled on November 13. He mentioned that the hostel organized transportation for the women to get to a hospital.
As reported by The Times, Mr. Toan mentioned that over 100 guests were served complimentary drinks as a sign of hospitality. He clarified that the alcohol was sourced from a licensed distributor and was not contaminated.
The location where the tainted beverages were distributed remains unclear, and the authorities in Laos are currently conducting an investigation.
At Bangkok Hospital, where Ms. Bowles remains in a serious condition, her father, Shane Bowles, expressed his gratitude to the community for their support. He also requested privacy as he spends time with his daughter in her hospital room.
Ms. Bowles and Ms. Jones participated in Aussie rules football together at Beaumaris Football Club. The club expressed on its website, "What happened while the two girls were in Southeast Asia is a heartbreaking and troubling event."
It went on to say, “Holly and Bianca have both become valued and well-regarded members of the Beaumaris Sharks community.”
Methanol is occasionally used as the alcoholic ingredient in cocktails at shady bars, and it can lead to serious poisoning or even death. The NHS cautions that consuming just 4ml of methanol can result in visual hallucinations and potentially cause blindness.
Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, stated that incidents of drink spiking and methanol poisoning occur too frequently in various regions across the globe.
She stated, “I urge parents and young individuals to talk about the potential dangers, to educate yourselves, and to collaborate in order to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated: “We are offering support to British citizens and their families, and we are communicating with local authorities after an incident that occurred in Laos.”
