Aussie teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles fighting for life after drinking poisoned cocktails in Laos

The two teenage Aussies fighting for their lives in Thailand after drinking cocktails laced with methanol have been identified.

The two Australian teenagers who have been left fighting for their lives after reportedly consuming cocktails laced with methanol while travelling through Southeast Asia have been named.

As reported by the Herald Sun, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were on a dream backpacking trip when tragedy struck in Laos - near Thailand’s border.

It is understood Ms Jones graduated from Mentone Girls Grammar, and Ms Bowles from Beaumaris Secondary College last year after completing their VCE.

Holly Bowles has been named as one of the Aussie teenager's on life support in hospital in Thailand.

Bianca Jones is the second Australian teenager in hospital in Thailand.

The pair were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, about 130kms north of Laos’ capital, Vientiane. It has been reported the pair were found unwell in their room by hostel staff, after consuming cocktails late last week at an unconfirmed location.

Ms Jones’ family told the Herald Sun they “can’t believe what has happened to our angel”.

“Our beautiful Bianca was on a dream getaway with her best friend Holly,” they said.

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

“We are here by Bianca’s bedside praying for her.

“Please respect our privacy at this difficult time.”

Colleagues of Ms Bowles, who worked at a popular eatery known as Frank’s Melbourne cafe in Cheltenham, described her as an “absolute star”.

“She’s a bundle of joy — to know her is to love her,” a staff member told The Age on Tuesday.

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

“We value her so much as a friend as well as a colleague.”

News.com.au has contacted Frank’s Melbourne for comment.

The teens were travelling in Southeast Asia. Picture: iStock

The girls were staying at Nanas Backpackers.

It is understood one of the women has been flown to a Bangkok hospital and her family is now by her side, with Felgate talking to her father, who described her condition as “grave”.

“I think it’s one of those stories where if you have teenage kids, you go home and hug them a little tighter,” Felgate said on 3AW Drive on Monday.

The two teens had been travelling as part of a larger group of around 10 women who had also visited Laos.

Methanol is often deliberately added to alcoholic drinks as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, which is the normal alcohol used in alcoholic beverages.

Do you know more? Continue the conversation: [e-mail]

Methanol is sometimes used in cocktails in some countries due to being less expensive to make. Picture: iStock

This usually occurs in countries where taxes on ethanol are seen as too high, according to the Methanol Institute.

Consuming as little as 25 millilitres of methanol can be fatal.

Symptoms of poisoning can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulty, blindness and seizures.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to news.com.au they were providing assistance to two Australians in Thailand.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand,” a DFAT spokesperson said in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”

Chilling warnings

In a Facebook group dedicated to backpacking in the area, one tourist warned others about the dangers of drinking alcohol after they claim six from their group are currently in hospital with methanol poisoning.

They say they were given “free shots” from a bar in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town in Laos.

There has also been reports of methanol poisoning happening in Vang Vieng, Laos. Picture: iStock

“Urgent, please avoid all local spirits,” they wrote.

“Our group stayed in Van Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.

“Just avoid them as so not worth it. 6 of us who drank from the place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”

The tourist said they were recovering after the scare.

“Personally I was very fatigued and then fainted,” they explained.

“I just felt nauseous and then my liver started to shut down. I got to the private hospital in time but underwent many infusions and tablets and days of recovery.”

Back in August this year, six people died in the Thai capital Bangkok while a further 31 were hospitalised after drinking a herbal liquor spiked with methanol.

Thai authorities claim that those who consumed the drink had likely obtained it from one of 18 different locations in Bangkok, who had all bought it from the same supplier.

The supplier allegedly told police that she purchased the alcohol from two brothers and did not know it had been laced with methanol.