A general view of the Bangkok hospital where an Australian teenager was taken after drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol in Laos and died in Bangkok, Thailand, November 22, 2024. Photo courtesy: Reuters
The second Australian teenager who fell seriously ill after drinking poisoned alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said on Friday (Nov 22, 2024), bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists. The number has become six.
Holly Bowles, 19, was on life support in a critical condition after being poisoned in Laos more than a week ago.
“We are very 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 Holi has brought much joy and happiness.” For so many people.”
An official from Vang Vieng’s tourism police office declined to give his name. The Associated Press Said Friday that “several people” have been detained in the case but that no charges have been filed yet. Staff at 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.
Tourist police offices are common in Southeast Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners.
The U.S. State Department on Friday issued a health alert for citizens traveling to Laos, following similar alerts from other countries, regarding “suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through consumption of methanol-containing alcoholic beverages.” ” warned, whose citizens were involved.
The Prime Minister of Australia announced on Thursday (November 21, 2024) that 19-year-old citizen Bianca Jones had died in a Thai hospital, where she was taken for emergency treatment, and her friend – Bowles – in the same hospital. doing. Fighting for my life.” Simone White, a 28-year-old British woman in Laos, also died of suspected methanol poisoning, the British Foreign Office said.
An American and two Danish tourists also died, although specific information about the causes of death have not been released.
New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens was ill in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning.
Laos is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government tightly monitoring information. In this case, authorities have released almost no details.
The Foreign Ministry has declined to comment, and at the small hospital in Vang Vieng, where some of the victims are believed to have been treated, all questions were initially referred to the city health office on the hospital grounds. . City health officials declined to comment, saying they did not have proper permission.
Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks in notorious bars as a cheap alternative to ethanol, but it can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew liquor, and can inadvertently find its way into bar drinks.
Landlocked Laos is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is especially popular among backpackers looking for party and adventure sports.
New Zealander Neil Farmiloe, owner of the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in the city, said many of his customers were deeply concerned by the incident.
“I think this has never happened before, so hopefully this is just a one-time incident,” said Farmilo, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. “It’s very sad all around. I’m sure no one meant to get hurt, but it happened.”
Two 19-year-old Australian women, who have now died, fell ill after a night out drinking with a group on 13 November.
They failed to check out of Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found ill in their room and then flown to Thailand for emergency treatment.
Thai authorities confirmed that Jones died from “brain swelling caused by the high levels of methanol found in his system”.
Duong Duc Tone, manager of Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before they were detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka before going elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning .
published – November 22, 2024 03:16 PM IST
