Grieving father’s plea after fatal drink poisonings

The father of a Melbourne teenager who died of suspected methanol poisoning during a South-East Asian holiday has pleaded with the Laos government to take action.

Mark Jones’ daughter, Bianca Jones, was on a dream holiday with her friend Holly Bowles when the pair, both aged 19, fell ill after a night out in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng. Bianca died in hospital on Thursday, a day before Bowles.

Thai authorities have already identified methanol, a form of alcohol mostly found in bootleg spirits, as the likely cause of Bianca’s death. She and Bowles were flown to separate hospitals in Thailand after they became sick.

Mark Jones said his daughter’s lust for life and adventure had cruelly been cut short as her life was just beginning.

“Our daughter was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates,” Jones told Nine News on Saturday. “This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many. Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.”

The grieving father made his plea amid what has been a secretive investigation by authorities in Laos.

Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Bowles died after a suspected mass drink poisoning.Credit:

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn’t happen again,” he said.

“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others.

“Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe. We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”

Six people have now died in the suspected poisoning incident. At least 10 others are seriously ill after drinking spirits believed to have been laced with methanol, a cheap and deadly form of alcohol mostly found in crude or criminal brews.

Tourists at Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng last Tuesday.Credit: AP

The government of Laos publicly acknowledged the tragedy for the first time on Saturday, saying it was “profoundly saddened”.

“The government of the Lao [People’s Democratic Republic] has been conducting investigations to find the causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,” it said. “The [government] reaffirms that it always attaches importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.”

Australian officials in Laos and Thailand told this masthead they were working closely with local authorities, including offering assistance in relation to the investigations that were underway.

“We are clear with our Lao counterparts that Australians expect those investigations to be thorough and transparent to try to prevent a repeat of such tragic events,” DFAT said in a statement.

They have also brought together representatives from other countries with affected citizens, including Denmark, UK, US and others.

At the weekend, members of the women’s football team, the Beaumaris Sharks, and other locals tied blue and yellow ribbons – the club’s colours – at locations across the suburb including at Beaumaris Secondary College and at Beaumaris Reserve.

In a statement released on Sunday, Beaumaris Football Club, where the girls’ played, said the events of the past week had taken a huge toll on the club.

“We continue to send our thoughts and prayers to Sam and Shaun Bowles and Michelle and Mark Jones and their family as they prepare to bring their beloved daughters Holly and Bianca home,” the club wrote.

“The Beaumaris Football Club extends its love and support to both the Mentone Girls’ Grammar and Beaumaris Secondary College communities as they too navigate Holly and Bianca’s passing.

“Holly and Bianca were loved and respected leaders of both school communities and we know all students, past and present, will be feeling their loss immeasurably.”

Beaumaris Cricket Club released a statement extending its condolences and unwavering support to the football club and the families of Bowles and Jones.

“Holly and Bianca’s tragic passing has left an indelible void in our community. Our hearts go out to the Bowles and Jones families, as well as the many friends, teammates, and supporters who have been touched by the lives of these two incredible young women,” the club wrote.

Ribbons in the women’s sporting club’s colours left as a tribute in Beaumaris.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

“The Beaumaris community is built on the values of care, compassion, and solidarity. In the wake of this tragedy, we stand united with the football club and the wider Beaumaris community, offering our love and support in every way possible.”

Tributes for Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones at Beaumaris Football Club on Saturday.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

Further details have emerged about the suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng. An American man and two Danish women are believed to have been the first to die.

A Laotian government document revealed that the American victim was found dead in his hostel room next to two empty bottles of vodka, while the two Danish victims were discovered unconscious on their bathroom floor.

The police document, seen by this masthead, named the American as James Louis Hutson, 57, and the Danish women as Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, although the trio could not be independently identified. British woman Simone White, 28, is also among the dead.

On Friday, police ordered the closure of Nana Backpacker Hostel, the hostel where the Australians and other travellers were staying when they were taken to hospital.

This masthead has been unable to verify reports from locals that all the dead victims were guests at Nana, which had been serving free shots of alcohol just before they became sick.

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