By AP – published by Yahoo!News and Naewna
Vang Vieng, Laos – A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said today (Nov. 22), bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.
Holly Bowles, 19, had been in critical condition on life support following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago.
“We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace,” her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10 and other Australian media. “We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”
According to hearsay 14 people fell sick at the same time and those alive who are still being treated in hospital include a British citizen, a New Zealander and a Dutch national, Naewna newspaper said this evening.
It is fairly clear from investigation that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, with the toxic alcohol used to make illegal liquor which the deceased drank.
Police investigation shows that poisoning occurred on Tuesday Nov. 12 but it is still unclear whether it was from the free shots the hostel they were staying at gave guests or at a bar they had visited that night.
An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press today that a “number of people” had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.
The US State Department today issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of “suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks,” following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved.
Australia’s prime minister announced yesterday that a 19-year-old citizen, Bianca Jones, had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, and that her friend — Bowles — remained in a hospital “fighting for her life.” A 28-year-old British woman, Simone White, also died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, the British Foreign Office said.
An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released.
New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens was sickened in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning.
Laos is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details.
The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the town’s health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission
Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.
Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.
Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in town, said a lot of his customers were very worried about the incident.
“I think it’s never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident,” said Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. “It’s very sad all around. I’m sure nobody intended to cause injury, but it happened.”
Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.”
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning.
CAPTIONS:
Top: The empty bar of Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP/Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
First below: Health officials come out of Nana Backpackers hostel after checking documents in Vang Vieng, Laos, today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP/Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
Second below: A foreign tourist couple rests near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP /Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
Third belwo: Health officials check documents and ask questions to Nana hostel employees in Vang Vieng, Laos, today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP/Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
Fourth below: Tourists ride on a motorbike near the tourism control police station in Vang Vieng, Laos,today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP/Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
Fifth below:: A woman with a bicycle walks past Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP/Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
Front Page: A foreign tourist couple rests near a swimming pool at Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, today, Nov. 22, 2024. Photo: AP /Anupam Nath and published by Yahoo!News
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