Holly Bowles sixth to die of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

A second Australian teenager has died of suspected methanol poisoning, bringing to 6 the variety of international vacationers who’ve died after apparently consuming tainted alcohol in Laos.

The household of Holly Bowles, 19, stated it was with “broken hearts” that they confirmed her dying, greater than every week after she fell in poor health within the vacationer city of Vang Vieng.

Her good friend Bianca Jones, additionally 19, and British lawyer Simone White, 28, from south-east London, have been confirmed to have died on Thursday.

An unnamed US man and two Danish ladies, aged 19 and 20, are additionally among the many victims of the suspected poisoning, believed to be related to bootleg alcohol.

In an announcement launched to media on Friday, Holly’s household stated they have been taking consolation from the actual fact she had introduced a lot “joy and happiness to so many people”.

They added that she had been dwelling “her best life travelling through South East Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences” when she turned in poor health.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated: “All Australians will likely be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. I provide my deepest sympathies to her household and mates.”

Holly and Bianca were taken to hospital on Wednesday, 13 November, 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.

News reports and testimonies suggest the tourists may have consumed alcohol laced with methanol – a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol.

Just a small amount of methanol, a colourless liquid that tastes similar to alcohol, can be lethal, but it is sometimes added to drinks because it is cheaper than alcohol.

The Nana Backpacker Hostel – where the Australian teenagers were staying – has said it gave out free shots to around 100 guests the previous evening.

But the hostel’s supervisor instructed information company Associated Press that no other guests had become unwell.

The manager of the hostel has since been detained for questioning by police.

It is not yet known where any of the people who fell sick or died were poisoned. It can take up to 24 hours for victims to start showing signs of illness.

Few details have emerged about any of the other victims and where they may have visited.

Simone White, who lived in Orpington, was reportedly travelling with a group of friends. Ms White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, whose work involved general commercial matters, contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law issues according to the firm’s website.

Australia is pushing authorities to be open about their investigation into the incident.

New Zealand and Dutch officials have also both said they were monitoring incidents involving nationals.

Vang Vieng is a hub for backpackers travelling throughout south-east Asia. It’s dwelling to the Banana Pancake Trail – a well-liked backpacking route spanning Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.