Thailand methanol poisoning: Travellers warned after Bianca Jones died, Holly Bowles fight for life
Travellers have revealed more details about where two Melbourne teens partied before being put on life support, and what other tourists have observed.
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More than 18 travellers have either been hospitalised or died as a result of methanol poisoning from four bars and hostels in Laos, where two Australians partied before they wound up fighting for life in hospital.
Melbourne travellers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were staying at Nana Backpacker Hostel last week in Vang Vieng, about 130km south of the capital Vientiane, when they drank cocktails laced with methanol.
Hostel staff found them unwell in their rooms on Wednesday. On Monday, they were hooked up to life support machines at separate hospitals in Thailand. On Thursday, Ms Jones’ family confirmed in a statement to the Herald Sun that Bianca had died.
Two Swedish nationals reportedly died and another ten people were sick after the incident, but travellers say there have been a number of other victims since late October.
One tourist, who did not want to be identified for safety reasons, revealed two of his friends died in Vang Vieng from methanol poisoning last week.
On Saturday, he sent a survey out to fellow travellers with questions about where they were staying when they experienced or witnessed methanol poisoning, what bars they went to, what they drank, and whether they were hospitalised.
In the survey, he wrote: “First of all, I want to extend my sincerest condolences and solidarity to anyone affected by the recent incidents involving methanol-contaminated drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos.
“Tragically, I lost my two dear friends to this issue earlier this week, and I know others may have also suffered similar devastating losses or health complications.
“In light of these events, I’m creating this form as a centralised resource to gather information about incidents related to methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng. My goal is to compile as much information as possible to provide me/you answers that haven’t been answered yet.”
He asked for travellers to share their stories to ensure “no one else has to endure the pain that I’ve experienced”.
The survey garnered 25 responses within two days. The results, obtained by this masthead, showed the incidents took place between October 21 and November 17.
The majority of the 14 people who went to hospital stayed at Nana Backpacker Hostel, and drank vodka shots at Jaidee’s Bar, Gary’s Irish Pub, Sakura Bar and Full Moon Bar.
Some who participated in the survey said they were not hospitalised, but were still sick from consuming methanol.
There is no suggestion staff at the venues were aware drinks contained methanol.
A staffer at Nana Backpackers said on Monday that Australian Embassy officials had visited the hostel.
The hostel’s manager also said police inspected the bar after the incident, but the alcohol served was “very normal”.
Former traveller Sophie stayed at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in 2023, telling this masthead she was surprised to hear the Australian teenagers were poisoned while staying there because “it’s one of the better places to stay”.
She also described Vang Vieng as a “party town with loads of bars” where a number of tourists have died drinking, taking drugs, and zip-lining into shallow waters.
“There were bars probably every couple of metres and then heaps of kids died, mainly they were on zip lines and they’d fall and hit their heads because the river is too shallow,” she said.
“It’s been reined back a lot since then and there are restrictions like you can only go to three bars along the river and they only open at certain times.”
Sophie said the main attractions last year were drinking and tubing down the Nam Song River. To get tourists into the bars along the river, staff throw a water bottle attached to a rope.
“You grab onto that and they pull you into the bar,” she said. “Some of the bars in town are really dodgy so I didn’t go in.”
“There are zero warnings and signs about dodgy spirits, or anything telling you to be careful.”
Ms Bowles and Ms Jones had recently completed Year 12 at Beaumaris Secondary College and Mentone Girls’ Grammar. They were travelling with a group of ten people when they fell ill.
A doctor from Vang Vieng Hospital told the ABC the teenagers arrived at emergency at about 2.30am on Wednesday.
“When they arrived, they looked drunk, tired and were breathing heavily but they still could communicate and move around,” he said.
One felt dizzy and had trouble breathing, so hospital staff gave her IV fluid.
“She later had a seizure and then went into a coma. The doctor intubated her and they were both sent to Setthatirat hospital in Vientiane,” he said.
The women were then transported to separate hospitals in Thailand.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Australian government was providing consular assistance to the families.
Methanol is the simplest form of alcohol. It is closely related to ethanol, the type of alcohol normally found in beer, wine and spirits, but is a dangerous poison.
Drinking just 25-90ml of methanol can be fatal. It can also cause blindness.
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