“Popular and fun-loving” British lawyer Simone White was rushed to hospital after she and her friends downed free vodka at the Nana Backpackers Hostel, which had been laced with methanol
A 28-year-old British lawyer tragically died from a bleed on the brain after drinking “fake booze” on a Laos holiday.
Simone White, from London, had been drinking with her friends at the Nana Backpackers Hostel but started to feel unwell. The group had downed free vodka shots, which had been laced with methanol, before she was rushed to hospital.
Her friends survived but tragically the Newcastle University graduate died on November 21 at the private Kasemrad International Hospital in the capital Vientiane. An inquest was opened today, which heard how the tourist died of methanol toxicity and intracranial haemorrhage.
Senior coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe told the short hearing: “I’ve ordered a post-mortem that has taken place, histology has been taken and specialist neuropathologist is examining the brain. That will take some time. In the meantime, the details from Laos are that she died on the 21st November 2024 at 15.13pm.
“Her main cause of death they give is, 1: methanol toxicity, and 2: intracranial haemorrhage. There is an investigation going on in Laos. I don’t have any jurisdiction to ask for any papers there but clearly I will be once that investigation is finished.
“There will be an inquest but it is normally quite some time to have to wait to get documents from abroad. We are also waiting for the specialist histopathology results and the family will be updated with those as soon as we have them and once the investigation abroad has finished we will be asking for the papers.”
The inquest at South London Coroners’ Court was adjourned until a later date.
Ms White’s devastated mum, Sue, rushed to be with her daughter and had to make the heartbreaking decision to turn off her ventilator as her condition worsened.
The 61-year-old, who flew 16 hours to be with her daughter, said: “Simone was such a popular, fun-loving girl, who was hugely well thought of. What’s happened is absolutely tragic, she had everything going for her.”
Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19; James Louis Hutson, a 57-year-old American; and Danish citizens Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, also tragically died.
Local authorities arrested seven staff members including the manager of the hostel where the drinks were served. The hostel remains closed following the tragedy.