Among the six tourists who died in Laos after drinking alcohol adulterated with methanol while on vacation were two Australian best friends, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones.
Taking Montaigne literally, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, went to Laos for “the trip of their dreams”. Objective for the two football players: cross the country in backpacker mode, with only a backpack, and make up for the time that Covid-19 stole from them.
Tuesday evening, November 12, the two best friends were in Vang Vieng, a city famous for its nightlife, and had planned to sleep in a youth hostel. After dark, they went to a nearby bar to “have a drink”, but the next morning they “collapsed” in their hostel. Emergency hospitalized on the morning of Wednesday 12th after being transported on a motorbike by a hotel employee, Bianca Jones was transferred to Thailand where she died on Thursday 21st November after her parents agreed to disconnect her artificial respirator. Holly Bowles died the next day after nine days in the hospital.
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Speaking to the Times, the doctor who treated Holly Bowles said she had gone “from confusion to coma in less than half an hour.” “She was confused and sleepy. We asked her what she had eaten or drunk, but she did not know what had happened,” he recalls. The doctor initially suspected excessive consumption of cannabis cakes, but blood tests from both women showed that they had been poisoned with methanol.
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adulterated alcohol
In some countries with looser alcohol regulations, methanol is illegally added to alcoholic beverages to reduce production costs. However, drinking a small amount – even a shot – of this so-called “adulterated” alcohol can be fatal, because methanol is broken down by the body into chemical compounds that attack the organs.
Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones are believed to have been poisoned either at the bar they went to or at their hostel, the manager of which was arrested. And they are unfortunately not the only victims: there were at least four other victims in Vang Vieng last week, two Danish women, a 56-year-old American and a 28-year-old British woman, Simone White. 14 people also fell ill.
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“So much joy and happiness”
“We find comfort and consolation in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people,” the Australian’s parents responded in a statement. Holly was living her best life traveling across Southeast Asia, meeting new friends and having incredible experiences. As parents, we were always incredibly proud of everything Holly did. Holly was a wonderful big sister to James and she always looked out for him. »
The parents of Bianca Jones told the “Herald Sun” that their daughter “was surrounded by love”. “We are comforted to know that his incredible spirit touched so many lives during his time with us,” they assured. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love and prayers we have received from across Australia. The kindness our family has witnessed during this unimaginable time has been truly humbling. »
Bianca wanted to explore the world.
Bianca Jones's father at the Herald Sun
Speaking to 7 News, her father lamented: “Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends and create change for good. She was a young woman who had a thirst for life and adventure. His life had just begun and it was cruelly interrupted. The man then urged the Laos government “to investigate this matter to the fullest extent possible to ensure that this incident does not happen again.” “Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe,” he insisted.
“Bianca's trip should have been a joyous time and a source of good memories for years to come, memories that she should have carried with her into the long, bright future that awaited her,” the Prime Minister also said Anthony Albanese, quoted by ABC Net.
