A teenage Australian has become the sixth foreign tourist to die of suspected methanol poisoning in a hot spot in northern Laos.
Holly Bowles, 19, died in hospital a day after her best friend Bianca Jones lost her life in a different hospital in Thailand.
The owner and manager of the hostel they were staying in, were arrested by the Laotian police after an investigation was launched.
British lawyer Simone White, 28, died on Thursday after it is believed she drank the same shot containing methanol on the night of November 12.
Simone White, a British lawyer, died on Thursday due to suspected methanol poisoning – FACEBOOK
Miss Bowles’ father confirmed his daughter’s death on Friday. “There are broken hearts, and we are sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.”
“We take solace and comfort in knowing that Holly has brought so much joy and happiness to so many people,” Shaun Bowles told Nine News.
Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, said: “All Australians will be saddened by his tragic passing.”
“Just yesterday, Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones,” said Ms. Wong. “I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts.”
The two friends, from Melbourne, had been in the middle of a “dream” trip to south-east Asia. They had been staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng and visited the local bars the night before they became seriously ill.
Nana Backpackers hostel staff found them in their room when they failed to leave on time.
The Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng where Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones lived – Anupam Nath/AP
The other victims, who lived in the same hostel, included two Danish women in their 20s and an American man.
The Telegraph understands that the American victim is 57-year-old James Hutson.
Mr Hutson was found dead in bed last week and died in hospital, The Times reported.
The Lao government said the suspected cause of their deaths was methanol poisoning.
At least 10 others, including some British tourists, became unwell after drinking in the same town.
They are believed to have drunk drinks contaminated with methanol, which is a cheaper alternative to the ethanol found in alcoholic beverages, but can cause severe poisoning or death.
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the hostel, said he served more than 100 guests on the night of Nov 12 with free shots of Lao Tiger vodka mixed with ice and Coke Zero.
But he denied that the alcohol was dirty, saying that the hostel had not sold or served drinks that made travelers sick.
Duong Duc Toan, manager of Nana Backpackers Hostel, offered free shots of Lao Tiger vodka and Coke Zero to more than 100 guests on the night of Nov 12 – Anupam Nath/AP
“We’re not doing anything wrong, for sure,” Mr Toan told the ABC, an Australian network. “I really take care of every customer [who] stay with our hotel and our hostel.”
Ms White, from Orpington in the London Borough of Bromley, was rushed to hospital following a night out with her friend Bethany Clarke, a health worker who is also from Orpington.
It is not clear when Ms. White died or the cause of her death. His family could not be reached for comment when contacted by The Telegraph on Thursday.
Ms Clarke, who was also treated in hospital, said her “liver started to shut down” after drinking a free shot provided by one of the bars in Vang Vieng.
He warned other travelers to “avoid all local spirits” on a Facebook group for backpackers in Laos.
“Urgent – please avoid all local winds,” he wrote. “Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
“Six of us who drank in one place are in the hospital with methanol poisoning,” he added.
A Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday: “We are supporting the family of the British woman who died in Laos, and are liaising with local authorities.”
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