Laos methanol deaths: UK backpacker reveals harrowing details of drink nightmare before Aussie teens’ deaths

Tributes continue to flow for the two Australian women who died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning as another backpacker detailed her horror ordeal at the Laos hostel.

Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles, 19, died on Friday in a Bangkok hospital, one day after her best mate Bianca Jones, also 19, died in another hospital in the Thailand capital.

The girls from Beaumaris in Melbourne’s south-east had been holidaying in Laos last week when they became ill, along with a dozen other tourists in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.

Both girls were heavily involved with the Beaumaris Football Club which on Saturday posted a tribute to the pair, showing ribbons of blue and yellow, the club’s colours, tied to a signpost at their home ground.

“Join in and turn Beaumaris Blue & Yellow in loving memory of both girls gone too soon and in support of their grief-stricken parents,” the club posted on Instagram, following a “private get-together” for players and coaches Friday night.

Ms Bowles’ parents confirmed her death on Friday, saying they were always incredibly proud of their daughter, who was “now at peace”.

“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people,” they said in a statement.

“Holly was living her best life travelling through South-East Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.”

Ms Bowles and Ms Jones didn’t leave their room at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng after going to Jaidee Bar, and reported feeling unwell on November 13 before being rushed to hospitals in Bangkok.

Thai authorities confirmed Ms Jones died of “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.

The manager and owner of the hostel, where the two young women were staying, have been detained by Laotian police.

A British backpacker has since come out to tell her story of being poisoned at the same bar attended by the two young Aussies, revealing harrowing details about the ordeal.

The young woman, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald Sun she drank at Nana Backpacker Hostel on November 9, just two days before the Aussie pair.

She became violently ill after only having two “free vodkas” at the hostel, before suffering temporary blindness and spending the next day vomiting, with a resting heart rate of 170 beats per minute.

The young woman sought help at the local hospital after pleas from her boyfriend, where she was put on an IV drip before being discharged with anti-nausea drugs.

“I just thought I was hungover, I spent the day going between my room and the toilet, just vomiting,” she said.

Although the terrifying ordeal ended for the young woman, she said she feels “terrible” for the two Aussie women and their families.

The suspected methanol poisoning event has been linked to six deaths so far, including the two Australians, 28-year-old British woman Simone White, American man James Louis Hutson, 57, and Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.

It’s believed all affected tourists had consumed drinks laced with methanol.

A Laotian police document reportedly detailed the American victim was found dead in his hostel room next to two empty bottles of vodka, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, while the two Danes were discovered unconscious on their bathroom floor.

Authorities alleged in the report that the Nana Backpacker Hostel continued to operate for nine days following the discovery of Hutson.

In an official statement released on Saturday, the Laos Government said it was “profoundly saddened over the loss of lives” of visitors to the country.

“The Government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,” it said.

“The Government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it always attaches importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.”

The Australian Government has updated its travel advice for Laos, urging residents to be aware of the potential risk of spirit-based drinks, including cocktails.

“Symptoms of methanol poisoning can be similar to drinking too much. However, they are usually stronger,” advice on the SmartTraveller website says.

“Symptoms of methanol poisoning include fatigue, headaches, nausea (and) vision problems.”

with AAP