Social media/flyersA second Australian teenager has died from suspected methanol poisoning, bringing to six the number of foreign tourists who have died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos.
The family of Holly Bowles, 19, said they confirmed her death with “broken hearts”, more than a week after she fell ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Her friend Bianca Jones, also 19, and British lawyer Simone White, 28, from south-east London, were confirmed dead on Thursday.
An unnamed American man and two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, were also among the victims of the suspected poisoning, believed to be linked to illegal alcohol.
In a statement released to the media on Friday, Holly’s family said they felt comforted by the fact that she brought so much “joy and happiness to so many people.”
They added that she was living her “best life traveling around Southeast Asia, meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences” when she became ill.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. I would like to send my deepest condolences to her family and friends.”
Holly and Bianca were taken to hospital on Wednesday, November 13, after they failed to check out of their hostel in the small riverside town of Vang Vieng, about two hours north of the capital Vientiane. .
Getty ImagesNews reports and testimonies suggest the tourists may have consumed alcohol laced with methanol – a deadly substance often found in contraband alcohol.
Medical experts say drinking as little as 25 ml of methanol can be fatal, but it is sometimes added to drinks because it is cheaper than alcohol.
The substance is also “not uncommon in home-distilled spirits,” points out Christer Hogstrand, professor of molecular ecotoxicology at King’s College London.
“Manol is like the alcohol in our drinks – colorless and odorless – but its effects on humans can be deadly,” he explains. It has a different carbon atom structure, which completely changes the way humans process it in the body, leading to these potential risks.” deadly consequences.”
It is still unclear whether anyone became sick or died as a result of the poisoning. It may take up to 24 hours for the victim to begin showing signs of illness.
Nana Backpacker Hostel – where the Australian teenagers stayed – said they gave out free food to about 100 guests the previous evening.
But the dormitory manager told the Associated Press news agency that no other guests were sick.
The dormitory manager was later arrested by police for questioning.
Online booking company Hostelworld said in a statement that it had removed Nana Backpacker Hostel from its platform and had contacted all customers in Vang Vieng and surrounding areas.
They added that they advise all tourists in the area to “exercise caution” when drinking alcohol and “only purchase products from reputable suppliers”.
There are few details about the other victims and where they may have visited.
Simone White, a lawyer living in Orpington, was said to be traveling with a group of friends.
In a statement, her parents said they were “deeply saddened by the loss of their beautiful, kind and loving daughter”.
“Simone was a person with the most wonderful energy and spark for life. She was a soul who gave so much to so many people and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.”
They added that she had been “taken from us too soon” and would be “sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and the whole family”.
“Our hearts go out to all the other families affected by this terrible tragedy,” the statement said.
Her law firm, Squire Patton Boggs described Ms White as “a talented colleague with a bright future ahead”.
“Our thoughts are with all of Simone’s family and friends as well as those colleagues and customers who had the privilege of working with and knowing Simone.”
Australia is pushing authorities to publicly investigate the incident.
New Zealand and Dutch officials also said they were monitoring incidents involving citizens.
Vang Vieng is a hub for backpackers traveling throughout Southeast Asia. This is where the Banana Pancake Trail is located – a famous backpacking route that stretches across Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
