‘Every parent’s nightmare’: Family of poisoned teen makes plea for answers

The family of a young Melbourne woman on life support in Thailand after a suspected mass methanol poisoning is urging authorities to get to the bottom of what happened to their daughter.

Best friends Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both aged 19, were holidaying in Vang Vieng, Laos, during a backpacking trip through South-East Asia when they failed to check out of their hostel on November 13. Staff later found them seriously ill in their room.

Holly Bowles (left) and Bianca Jones are fighting for their lives in Thai hospitals.

“We hope the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible,” the Jones family said in a statement on Wednesday.

Bowles’ father, Shaun Bowles, spoke outside the hospital in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon.

“Right now our daughter remains in the intensive care unit, in critical condition. She’s on life support,” he told Nine News.

“We’d just like to thank everyone from back home for all the support and love that we’re receiving.

“But we’d also like for people to appreciate that right now we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly.”

The Jones family said in its statement that there was no update on Bianca’s condition.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support that have come from across Australia,” the statement said.

“This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the anguish we are going through.”

Shaun Bowles, father of Holly, outside the hospital in Bangkok on Wednesday,Credit: Nine News

Local police said many details about what occurred to the two Australians remained unclear and that the matter was still under investigation. Officers were seen taking bottles of alcohol for testing from the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the women stayed, on Wednesday.

The women, both from Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, are believed to have been out drinking in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town, before they fell ill with suspected methanol poisoning.

They were rushed to separate hospitals in Thailand. Both remained on life support on Wednesday with their families by their bedsides.

In an earlier statement, the Jones family said Bianca had been on a dream getaway with her best friend.

“They were filled with joy and had such incredible adventures ahead of them, travelling through Asia,” the family said.

“We are here by Bianca’s bedside praying for her. Please respect our privacy at this difficult time.”

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Wednesday that two other young women had died from suspected methanol poisoning.

The women are believed to have been aged in their 20s, The Bangkok Post reported. It said 10 others had also fallen ill.

Australia’s Smartraveller website, which is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, issued a warning on Tuesday about the danger of contaminated drinks.

“Several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of suspected cases of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks,” the advice says.

“Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails.”

In Melbourne, those who know Bowles and Jones have thrown their support behind them and their families.

Cafe workers at Frank’s in Cheltenham, where Bowles had worked for more than two years, said on Tuesday that she was in their thoughts.

“She’s just an absolute star. She’s a bundle of joy. To know her is to love her,” the cafe manager, who asked not to be named for privacy reasons, said.

“We’re just praying for the family. She’s just a loyal, caring, sweet person.”

Bowles completed VCE at Beaumaris Secondary College last year and was on a gap year. She wanted to work, save money and travel, the cafe manager said.

Jones is a university student after graduating from Mentone Girls’ Grammar, where she achieved a study score of 40 for global politics last year.

A former Mentone classmate, who asked not to be named, described her as “such a sweet, funny, sarcastic and sassy girl with a huge personality”.

“She was very active in her house at school, competitive, athletic, yet still smart and determined.”

Both teenagers play football for Beaumaris Football Club. On Tuesday president Nick Heath described Bowles as an “incredibly tough competitor” who was well respected among her teammates. Her father was also an assistant coach at the club.

“We’ve got a very tight group of players at the footy club.”

Heath said the club would support all the teammates.

“As a football club, we feel a little bit inadequate. A lot of their teammates are quite rightly distraught,” he said.

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