Melbourne teenagers on life support in Thailand hospital after methanol poisoning incident identified

The two teenagers on life support after drinking cocktails laced with methanol in Thailand have been identified as their families made a mercy dash to their hospital bedside.

Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones were among 10 people believed to have fallen ill in the incident in the Laos town of Vang Vieng last week.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Thailand poison victims identified

The women, both aged 19 and from Melbourne’s southeast, had been travelling across South East Asia on a university break when they became critically unwell.

It’s believed the pair were holidaying as part of a group and were staying at a backpacker hostel when they consumed cocktails laced with methanol.

Hostel staff found the pair and other travellers unwell in their rooms and immediately called for help.

Two Swedish nationals are believed to have died in the mass poisoning event.

Both Bowles and Jones remain in hospital in Thailand, with their families having flown to be by their bedsides.

Bowles works at a café called Franks in Cheltenham and staff told The Age she is “an absolute star” and “bundle of joy”.

Franks was closed on Monday after staff found out that Bowles was fighting for her life and posted a photo to their social media of a love heart.

“The team had some tough news today,” they replied in a comment to a customer.

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

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

The symptoms of methanol poisoning can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, blindness, blurred vision and seizures.

Drinking just 25 to 90ml of methanol can be fatal, according to the institute.

On Tuesday, Sunrise reporter Teegan Dolling spoke about the incident.

“They were ... out one night having cocktails when they fell violently ill,” Dolling said.

“It is understood they have fallen victim to a mass methanol poisoning.

“There’s been reports that two Swedish nationals have actually died and 10 others have fallen ill.

“The two women now in separate hospitals across Thailand fighting for their lives.

“Families from Melbourne made the mercy dash. DFAT confirmed they are providing consular assistance to two Australians as well as their families.

“We were talking earlier just about the amount of methanol that can be fatal. It’s often added to alcohol in some countries instead of ethanol.

“It can make you very sick and even kill you. Having a quick look, it said 30ml of methanol can be fatal that is just two tablespoons.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand.

“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” the spokesperson said.

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