Family of Bianca Jones, a Melbourne teen fighting for life in Thailand after methanol poisoning, issues statement

The family of an Australian teenager who is fighting for life in Thailand after drinking cocktails laced with methanol has said they are “praying” for her recovery.

Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were among a group of people believed to have fallen ill in the mass poisoning incident in the Laos town of Vang Vieng last week.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bayside teens fight for life in Thailand

The women, from Melbourne’s southeast, had been travelling in Southeast Asia on a university break when they became critically ill.

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

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

Both young women remain in separate hospitals in Thailand, with Bowles currently on life support.

In a statement to 7NEWS, Jones’ family said they had flown to the southeast Asian country to be by her side.

“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.”

Bowles’ family has also flown to Bangkok.

It’s believed two Swedish nationals in the same travel group as the two friends have died from the methanol poisoning. As many as 10 other people are also believed to have fallen ill.

Nana Hostel owner Duong van Huan told the ABC the women had been drinking at a bar and were taken to hospital after becoming unwell on Wednesday morning.

“This has never happened at the hostel. My business takes care of everyone. We never do anything wrong,” the owner said.

“I’m not sure what happened but at the hostel we only sell drinks, whiskey, cocktails and police have already checked everything.

“All of the alcohol we have is safe. In eight years, this has never happened.”

‘Absolute star’

Jones’ old school Mentone Girls Grammar said in a statement that it would offer “a quiet space for those who may be seeking comfort in the presence of others. “

A representative of Franks, the café at which Bowles works in Cheltenham 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 on social media.

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 appear similar to drinking too much but can be “stronger”, and 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.

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.”

Victorian minister Steve Dimopoulos described it as a tragedy.

“What was meant to be a beautiful holiday full of memories has ended an absolute tragedy, and we all think of people that we love who travel for the joy,” the minister told reporters on Tuesday.

Australia’s Smartraveller website urges tourists to be on the lookout for methanol poisoning, saying as little as one shot can be fatal.

“Alcohol production is less regulated in some destinations than in Australia,” the website states.

“This can lead to methanol being used in the production process to lower costs.”

- with AAP