An Australian teenager has become the sixth foreign tourist to die from suspected methanol poisoning at a backpacker hotspot in northern Laos.
Holly Bowles, 19, died in hospital the day after her best friend Bianca Jones lost her life in a separate Thai hospital.
The owner of the hostel where they stayed in Vang Vieng has been detained by Laotian police for questioning, Australian outlet ABC reported after an investigation was launched.
British lawyer Simone White, 28, died on Thursday after allegedly drinking the same shots containing methanol on the night of November 12.
Simone White, a British lawyer, died Thursday of suspected methanol poisoning – FACEBOOK
Miss Bowles' father confirmed his daughter's death on Friday. “It is with broken hearts and we are so 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 deeply saddened by the tragic death.”
“Yesterday Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones,” Ms Wong said. “I know tonight all Australians will hold both families in our hearts.”
The two friends, from Melbourne, were halfway through a 'dream trip' in Southeast Asia. They stayed in a hostel in Vang Vieng and visited local bars the night before they became seriously unwell.
The staff at Nana Backpackers Hostel found them in their room when they did not leave on time.
The Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng where Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones stayed – Anupam Nath/AP
Among the other victims, who stayed in the same hostel, were two Danish women in their twenties and an American man.
The Lao government said the suspected cause of death was methanol poisoning.
At least ten others, including other British tourists, became unwell after drinking in the same city.
They are believed to have consumed drinks contaminated with methanol, which is a cheaper alternative to the ethanol found in alcoholic drinks but can cause serious poisoning or death.
Duong Duc Toan, the hostel's manager, said he had served more than 100 guests on the night of November 12 with free shots of Lao Tiger vodka mixed with ice and Coke Zero.
But he denied the alcohol was contaminated and said the hostel had not sold or given away drinks that made travelers sick.
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpackers Hostel, served more than 100 guests on the night of November 12 with free shots of Lao Tiger vodka and Coke Zero – Anupam Nath/AP
“We're certainly not doing anything wrong,” Mr Toan told ABC, the Australian broadcaster. “I really take care of all customers [who] stay at our hotel and our hostel.”
Mrs White, from Orpington in London's Bromley, was taken to hospital after a night out with friend Bethany Clarke, a health worker who is also from Orpington.
It is not clear when Ms. White died or what her cause of death is. Her family could not be reached for comment on Thursday when contacted by The Telegraph.
Ms Clarke, who was also treated in hospital, said her “liver started shutting down” after drinking free shots offered by one of the bars in Vang Vieng.
She warned other travelers to “avoid all local spirits” on a Facebook group for backpackers in Laos.
“Urgent – please avoid all local spirits,” she wrote. “Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
“Six of us who drank in the same place are currently in hospital with methanol poisoning,” she added.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said on Thursday: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with local authorities.”
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