AUSTRALIAN teenager Bianca Jones, 19, has died after drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol in Laos, Southeast Asia.
She is among four dead with at least a dozen others in hospital – including six British tourists – after they were allegedly served poisoned drinks.
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Bianca Jones (pictured) from Australia died in hospital
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Tourists were reported to have fallen ill after partying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel on Tuesday night last weekCredit: AP
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Simone White (pictured), from Orpington, Kent, was hospitalized after allegedly being injected with methanol while on holiday in Laos
The Melbourne teenager was rushed to hospital in neighboring Thailand on November 13 after falling ill in Vang Vieng – a town popular with foreign backpackers.
Bianca died on Thursday, and a Thai police official told Reuters: “The doctor who examined her said the cause of death was methanol poisoning, a fake drink.
“The amount of methanol in her body was high, which led to swelling of the brain.”
She was the fourth foreign tourist to die after drinking contaminated alcohol, after two Danes and an American, according to Australian media.
The Jones family – at Bianca’s bedside – previously said in a statement that she was on a “dream getaway with her best friend Holly”.
In a statement to the Aussie Herald Sun on Thursday, they said: “It is with the heaviest hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away.
“She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted to know that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love and prayers we have received from all over Australia.”
Bianca’s friend Holly Bowles, 19, is also listed as one of the victims and is still in hospital.
Two Danish women, aged in their 20s, reportedly died after the horrific incident, as reported by The Times.
An unnamed US citizen, aged 56, is also feared to have died in the mass poisoning.
Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, was hospitalized after allegedly drinking injections of methanol.
An associate solicitor was among those allegedly poisoned on Tuesday night last week.
Five other British tourists are among those being treated in hospital, according to reports.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday after Bianca’s death: “This is every parent’s worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.
“All Australians extend our deepest sympathies to them at this time of heartbreak.”
He said Holly remains in critical condition.
“We also take this moment to say that our thoughts are with Bianca’s friend Holly Bowles who is fighting for her life,” Albanese added.
Meanwhile, 12 others, most of whom were guests at the Nana Backpacker hostel, are believed to be still seriously ill.
It is not known where the contaminated drinks were sold.
The Australian and British governments have previously warned travelers to be careful with alcoholic beverages in Laos.
Methanol is a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and fuel source, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention writes on its website.
British Simone’s friend Bethany Clarke raised the alarm with an urgent warning on the Laos Backpacking Facebook group.
She wrote: “Urgent — avoid all local liquor. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and drank the free drinks offered by one of the bars.
“Just avoid them because it’s not worth it. The six of us who drank in the same place are currently in the hospital with methanol poisoning.”
Bethany added that she was “very tired and then passed out, then just felt nauseous and then my liver started shutting down.”
She continued: “I got to the private hospital on time, but I went through many IVs and pills and days of recovery.”
The manager of the hostel, Duong Duc Toan, confirmed that more than 100 guests were given free Lao Tiger vodka mixed with ice and Coca-Cola Zero.
He said the alcohol was from an authorized distributor and was not touched by his staff.
“Right now the police [are telling] every hostel, hotel and bar to stop selling liquor in Vang Vieng,” he told The Associated Press.
Toan told the Australian broadcaster ABC: “Police in Vang Vieng and [the capital] Vientiane has already come to the hostel to check, shop [where] let’s buy vodka, check the store [where] we buy whiskey.
“We’re not doing anything wrong, for sure. I really take care of all customers [who] stay at our hotel and hostel.”
Police in Laos have launched an investigation into the alleged poisoning.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to British nationals and their families and are in contact with local authorities following the incident in Laos.”
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Aussie Bianca was one of 14 reported to have been hospitalised
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Holly Bowles, 19, was another who had to seek treatment
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