‘Can’t breathe’: New details about teens’ poisonings emerge

Fresh details have emerged after two Australian teenagers were poisoned with methanol while on a dream holiday in Laos.

Fresh details have emerged after two teenagers from Melbourne fell victim to a mass methanol poisoning in Laos.

Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were on a dream trip to South East Asia when they fell ill following a night out in Vang Vieng on November 11.

They were staying at Nana Backpackers and consumed drinks at the bar before heading out to another venue, staff at the hostel claimed.

They spent the next day sleeping in their room but came out to tell staff they “couldn’t breathe” and needed to go to hospital, the Herald Sun reports.

Holly Bowles is critically ill after a suspected mass poisoning during a holiday in South-East Asia. Credit:Facebook

Bianca Jones is also fighting for life in hospital. Picture: SUPPLIED

One hostel worker, who went by the nickname Pikachu, said the girls walked into reception when they were gravely unwell.

“We didn’t know what happening with them because they go party outside,” the worker said.

“They come to tell my staff, please, can you help me, bring me to the hospital.

“They (found it) hard to breathe, the staff in the night shift just quickly bring her to the hospital.

“I have only one motorbike so they just bring them one by one, my staff tried to help the customer.”

The girls was staying at Nana Backpackers in Vang Vieng.

Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were staying in this hostel room before falling unwell.

Nana Backpackers’ bartender Toan Van Vanng denied that the girls had been poisoned at the hostel’s bar.

He poured a vodka and Coke Zero, the same drink as the girls had been drinking, and took a sip himself to prove it was safe, the paper reported.

Mr Van Vaang said the vodka was purchased from a distributor and staff never watered it down or added to the bottle.

Nana Backpackers Hostel bar tender Toan Van Vanng pours the same vodka and Coke Zero drink the girls had at the hostel’s bar.

The girls, who are both from Melbourne’s beachside suburbs, had come down to the hostel bar at happy hour (8pm) to have a few drinks before heading out to a party around 10.30pm, Pikachu said.

It is thought 14 other people have fallen ill in the same mass drink-spiking, while two people (thought to be Swedish nationals) have died.

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles have been transferred to separate hospitals in Thailand where they are fighting for life.

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.”

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, who graduated from Mentone Girls’ Grammar and Beaumaris

Vang Vieng in Laos (iStock).

Secondary College last year, left home for South East Asia a couple of weeks ago and were due to return home before Christmas.

It is understood the pair had both played for Beaumaris Football Club.

Nana Backpackers, which opened in 2018, is known for its party vibe and offers free drinks, including vodka, whiskey and beer, according to reviews on its Facebook page.

On Tuesday the hostel had been kicked off booking platform Hostel World.

Australian Embassy officials have reportedly inspected the bar.

One backpacker said he was offered a discount when he arrived at the hostel on Tuesday.

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

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.

“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, 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.

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