‘Someone’s responsible’: Families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones demand answers over methanol poisoning
The families of two young Australian women who died from methanol poisoning while on a dream trip to Laos are demanding someone be brought to justice for the tragedy.
Melbourne 19-year-olds Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones were among six travellers who all died in November after unwittingly consuming methanol-laced drinks in a bar in popular tourist town Vang Vieng.
The Bowles and Jones families say they are yet to hear from the Laos government, which has only contacted the Australian government.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I cannot have my daughter’s passing not mean anything,” Bianca’s father Mark told 60 Minutes.
“We want some form of closure. We want to understand that people who have done wrong by our daughter and Holly and the other people are going to be brought to justice.”
Holly and Bianca did not leave their dorm at the Nana Backpacker Hostel 24 hours after going to a bar in Laos and reported feeling unwell on November 13, before being rushed to hospital in Bangkok.
An American man, two Danish women and a British woman were among those who died and at least eight people, believed to be hotel staff and management, were detained.
“People have died, and someone is responsible,” Holly’s father Shaun Bowles said.
The families say they want to understand what happened to their daughters so other tourists aren’t put at risk and they can have closure.
“We can’t have another family go through what we’ve all gone through,” Bianca’s mother Michelle Jones said.
“We want to understand that people who have done wrong by our daughter and Holly and the other people are going to be brought to justice,” Shaun said.
