Travel warning for country loved by backpackers as fourth tourist dies in mass poisoning

Travel

A teenager has become the fourth person to die in a suspected methanol poisoning Laos.19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones died just hours after the US State Department confirmed the death of an American in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.The deaths follow the passing of two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, last week in the holiday destination, which saw 2.6 million international visitors between January and August this year.Authorities confirmed that Ms Jones’ friend, Holly Bowles, and a British woman are currently on life support in the hospital.Ms Jones’ parents paid tribute to their daughter and her “incredible spirit.”They told the Herald Sun: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away.“She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted by the knowledge that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us.”The father of Ms Bowles told reporters outside the Bangkok Hospital that his daughter is being treated and that his daughter remains in critical condition.He said: “Right now our daughter remains in an intensive care unit, in critical condition, she’s on life support.”A police investigation is ongoing into the cause of the deaths. Still, news reports and testimonies of fellow tourists suggest that the dead may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a substance common in bootleg alcohol.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Our first thoughts in this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss.“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.”Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Drink spiking and methanol poisoning are far too common in too many parts of the world, so at this time, I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks.A recent traveller to Vang Vieng has taken to Facebook to urge caution to those offered free drinks after her friend fell ill after drinking local spirits.Bethany Clarke took to a Facebook group for backpackers in Laos to warn: “Urgent – please avoid all local spirits,” she wrote. “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.”The hostel’s owner in which the two Australian women stayed has confirmed that it is closed for a police investigation.The hostel’s manager told the Associated Press that they had served over 100 drinks on the night in question, including free shots, arguing that nobody else had shown signs of illness. He said that he hoped an investigation would clear the hostel’s name.He told ABC: “Right now the police (are telling) every hostel and hotel and bar to stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng…not only our hostel, other hostel and hotel customers have the same problem.”