Simone White, 28, was travelling in Laos with her best friend, Bethany Clarke, when she died after drinking what turned out to be bootleg alcohol during a night out
The best mate of a British woman who tragically died after consuming counterfeit booze abroad has shared the horrifying moment they realised they had been poisoned.
Bethany Clarke and her lifelong pal Simone White, both from Orpington in southeast London, were enjoying a night out in Laos last November when six shots turned into a nightmare. Simone sadly died after unknowingly drinking bootleg alcohol – suspected to have been laced with methanol – while travelling in the popular backpacker hotspot of Vang Vieng. She was only 28.
Now residing in Brisbane, Bethany, also 28, has started a petition to spread awareness about the perils of methanol poisoning, urging for vital education in UK schools.
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READ MORE: What is methanol poisoning? Inside the deadly trend targeting young backpackers
The friends had been exploring Southeast Asia, kicking off their journey in Cambodia and then heading into Laos full of anticipation. They had spent the day floating down the river – a favourite tourist pastime – before heading back to their hostel for an evening of boozing.
Bethany revealed: “We had methanol-laced shots. We had five or six each, just mixing them with Sprite. The next morning, we didn’t feel right, but we just assumed it was a hangover. It was odd though – unlike any hangover I’d experienced before. It felt like being drunk but in a way where you couldn’t enjoy it. Something was just off.”
Despite feeling unwell, they carried on with their plans, making their way to the Blue Lagoon and kayaking down the river once more. Bethany shared her harrowing experience: “We were just lying on the backs of the kayaks, too weak to paddle. Simone was being sick off one of them. Neither of us wanted to swim or eat – which, we later learned, are early signs of methanol poisoning.”
It went downhill a few hours after they hopped on a bus to their next stop, with Bethany passing out and Simone throwing up non-stop. They ended up in what Bethany could only describe as a “very poor” local hospital – where medics initially suspected food poisoning, despite the duo not sharing the same meals.
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As their conditions took a nosedive, they reached a private hospital, but time was slipping away. Bethany recalls: “They told me they’d do all they could to save her. She was having seizures during dialysis. I was told at one point there was a 70 per cent chance she’d recover. I still had hope.”
In a devastating turn, as Simone’s condition deteriorated rapidly, her mother, Sue White, took an emergency flight to be by her side during brain surgery. Bethany reveals: “Her brain had started to swell, and they had to shave her head. The surgery relieved the pressure but caused bleeding and the other side started swelling.”
Tragically, the confirmation that it was methanol poisoning came in two weeks too late – Simone had died.
In a heartfelt drive, Bethany is campaigning to have methanol and counterfeit alcohol dangers included in school curricula to educate youngsters about the perils of drinking unregulated beverages while abroad.
“With methanol poisoning, you don’t think straight. It’s like dementia – you can’t make decisions, and you can’t problem-solve,” she continued.
“Organised crime is rife, you think alcohol is safe – but unless it’s beer or alcohol you have purchased from duty free, anything else consumed is a gamble. People have died in restaurants, even after buying bottles from supermarkets. You just never know.”
The group led by Bethany has plans to launch an impactful educational film designed to echo the sombre vibes of anti-drink-driving campaigns traditionally shown in schools. At this time, their call to action has amassed upwards of 3,000 signatures, moving steadily towards a target of 10,000 endorsements.
Compelling people to heed the warning, Bethany said: “Even if people can’t sign the petition, I want them to know about the risks.”
You can support Bethany’s campaign by signing her petition.
