The family of 19-year-old Australian teenager Holly Bowles confirmed she had died in hospital in Bangkok on Friday, surrounded by her loved ones – after suffering alleged methanol poisoning
Australian teen Holly Bowles has died after suffering alleged methanol poisoning while on holiday to Laos with her best pal.
The family of the 19-year-old confirmed she had died in hospital in Bangkok on Friday, surrounded by her loved ones. Bowles’ best friend, Bianca Jones, 19, who she was joined by on the trip, also died in hospital just one day earlier.
Holly is the sixth person to die after drinks were mixed with methanol and served to guests at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in the bustling party town of Vang Vieng. The 19-year-old had been in a critical condition in hospital in Bangkok for days following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago.
Australian broadcaster Network 10 read aloud a short statement from the Bowles family, saying: “We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.”
British lawyer Simone White, from Kent, died on Thursday after she fell ill from drinking free shots laced with methanol, while the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed two young women from Denmark had also passed away. Earlier on Thursday, the US State Department confirmed the death of a 56-year-old male US citizen in Vang Vieng.
Best pals Holly and Bianca were on a gap year trip when both girls fell ill on November 12. The following day, the pair failed to check out of their accommodation, which caused staff to grow concerned. Hostel workers later arranged to take the women to hospital after they “calmly” asked for assistance.
In CCTV footage from inside the hostel, one of the women was filmed being taken away for medical assistance on the back of a motorbike driven by a hotel worker.
The owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, where the tourists are believed to have been served the potentially methanol-adulterated drinks, has refuted claims that poisonous beverages were distributed at his establishment.
Police in Laos have since detained the manager and owner of a hostel in connection with the deaths, but have not yet named the owner or given an official comment on the development.
Laos is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details.
The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng, the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially, referred all questions to the town’s health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission.
Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a by-product of poorly distilled homebrewed liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.
