A British backpacker has died after being taken to hospital with suspected methanol poisoning after allegedly being served free drinks in Laos.
Simone White, a solicitor from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to die following the incident in the Vang Vieng area.
She and her friend Bethany Clarke, also from Orpington, were both taken to hospital last week. It has since emerged that four other people – an Australian, an American and two Danes – have died following the incident in the backpacking hotspot.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being taken to a hospital in neighbouring Thailand. A friend of the teenager, Holly Bowles, was “fighting her life”, Mr Albaese also told parliament.
With a Kiwi also among those unwell, New Zealand’s foreign ministry said there had been “several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks”.
In a post on a Laos backpacking Facebook group on 16 November, which has since been deleted, Ms Clarke wrote: “Urgent – please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
“Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”
She reportedly added that she was treated at a private hospital where she underwent “many infusions” and spent days recovering. It’s not known if she is still in hospital.
Many of the victims were reportedly staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel. Details began emerging last week when some started falling ill after being served drinks as part of a group while in the remote town.
On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the hostel, told the Associated Press that staff had been informed by other guests that two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on 13 November. The hostel then arranged transport to a hospital for them, he said.
According to The Times, Mr Toan said more than 100 guests had received free shots as a gesture of hospitality, but said that the alcohol was from a certified distributor and had not been tainted.
It is not known where the contaminated drinks were served, with Laos police now carrying out an investigation.
Outside Bangkok Hospital, where Ms Bowles is in a critical condition, her father, Shane Bowles, thanked the public for their support while asking for privacy as he spent time with his daughter.
Ms Bowles played Australian rules football with Ms Jones at Beaumaris Football Club. In a statement on its website, the club said: “The situation that occurred whilst both girls were travelling in southeast Asia is tragic and distressing.”
It continued: “Both Holly and Bianca have become cherished and highly respected members of the Beaumaris Sharks family.”
Methanol is sometimes used as the alcohol in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause severe poisoning or death. The NHS warns that as little as 4ml of methanol can cause visual hallucinations and blindness.
Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong said drink spiking and methanol poisoning were “far too common in many parts of the world”.
She added: “At this time, I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks, please inform yourselves, please let’s work together to ensure this tragedy doesn’t happen again.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to British nationals and their families and are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Laos.”
