Two Australian tourists are currently being treated in Thailand for a suspected severe alcohol poisoning. The teenage girls fell ill after having gone out for drinks while staying in the tourist town Vang Vieng in Laos.
Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, two 19-year old women from Melbourne, are currently being treated in Thailand after falling ill due to a suspected methanol poisoning while on holiday in neighbouring Laos. The two were enjoying a gap year in Laos.
When the two fell ill, they were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in tourist town Vang Vieng. Two days before being transferred to the hospital, Holly, Bianca and around 100 other guests were treated to free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel. Afterwards, they went out for drinks before eventually going back to the hostel early in the morning. When the two didn’t show up for check-out, they were found ill in their room.
“When they arrived, they looked drunk, tired and were breathing heavily but they still could communicate and move around”, a doctor from the Vang Vieng hospital told ABC News.
As one of the teenagers was feeling dizzy and had trouble breathing, the doctor gave her IV fluid. “She later had a seizure and then went into a coma. The doctor intubated her and they were both sent to Setthatirat hospital in Vientiane”, the source continued.
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Bianca Jones’ family explained the tragedy of the situation. “Our beautiful Bianca was on a dream getaway with her best friend Holly. 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.”
The two friends are currently being treated at separate hospitals in Thailand, one in Bangkok and one in Udon Thani. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is also involved. “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand. Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment”, a spokesperson told News AU.
Even though it is yet to be determined by the authorities what exactly caused the women to fall ill and where they drank it, methanol is sometimes added to cocktails in the region as a cheaper alternative to alcohol. As little as 25 millilitres of it can be deadly.
According to several news outlets, other tourists have fallen ill due to methanol poisoning at the same time. Two Danish tourists have even died, allegedly after having drinks with the same group as Holly and Bianca. The Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has confirmed the deaths but also has a duty of confidentiality, meaning they cannot provide further information.
