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Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles died in a Thai hospital nine days after drinking a drink suspected of containing methanol in Laos, her father has confirmed.
In a statement, the 19-year-old’s father told 9News that “the beautiful girl Holly is now at peace” after she died in a Bangkok hospital.
“We find solace and comfort in knowing that Holly has bought so much joy and happiness to so many people,” Mr Bowles said.
“Holly lived her best life traveling around Southeast Asia, meeting new friends and enjoying amazing experiences.
“As her parents we have always been incredibly proud of everything Holly has done.
“Holly was a great big sister to James and always looked out for him.”
The Bowles family expressed their gratitude for the support they have received since their daughter became ill.
“We would like to thank everyone at home, in Canada and around the world for the love and support that Holly and our family have received.
“We would now like to request privacy during this extremely difficult time.”
It came less than a day after a UK woman became the fifth fatality linked to an alleged spate of methanol-tainted alcohol poisoning.
An American and two Danish tourists also died, officials said after reports that several people had fallen ill in a Lao town popular with backpackers.
In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “saddened” to hear of Bowles’ tragic death.
“This should have been a trip filled with joy and wonderful memories – it’s more sad that it wasn’t,” Albanese said.
“My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and her friends.
“I’m sure all Australians are thinking of Holly and her best friend Bianca Jones who tragically passed away yesterday.”
Albanese said the government will continue to provide support to the Jones and Bowles families, as well as local authorities.
Today, police in Udon Thani, where Jones died in hospital, revealed that the teenager was fighting a losing battle.
“She has been unconscious since she was picked up from Laos and has not regained consciousness since then, although she received medical care,” said Udon Thani Police General Phattanawong Chanphon.
“The cause of death is probably the consumption of methanol from a fake drink.
“It is poison and cannot be consumed. It causes swelling of the brain and causes death.”
Overnight, the British government confirmed that a UK national had also died of methanol poisoning in Laos. The Foreign Office said “we are supporting the family of the British woman who died in Laos and are in contact with the local authorities”.
British media identified her as 28-year-old Simone White, a lawyer at Squire Patton Boggs.
The victims are believed to have consumed drinks laced with methanol, which is sometimes added to mixed drinks in seedy bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol but can cause serious poisoning or death.
The owner of the Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, where Bowles and Jones stayed, is understood to be in custody in the Lao capital Vientiane to assist police with investigations.
9News has learned that the hostel will be temporarily closing its doors.
The hostel owner insists that the drink did not come from his bar.
Phone numbers listed for the Lao Ministry of Health were not working, and police declined to comment on the incident.
The US State Department confirmed that an American had also died in Vang Vieng, and the Danish Foreign Ministry said two of its nationals had also died in an “incident in Laos”, but neither would comment directly on the link to the methanol poisoning that killed Jones.
In a statement to the Melbourne Herald Sun, Jones’ family asked for privacy in their grief.
She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted to know that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us, the family wrote.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love and prayers we have received from all over Australia.”
The U.S. State Department said local authorities are investigating the case and are responsible for providing any details, and that the U.S. is providing consular assistance.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family for their loss,” the State Department said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.
Members of Beaumaris Football Club, where Jones and Bowles played for a number of years, gathered at the club for an intimate vigil for them on Friday night.
Mentone Girls Grammar, where Jones graduated in 2023, also paid tribute to the “beautiful young woman”.
“Bianca was a beautiful young woman in every sense of the word, who lived her life with great spirit and unbridled enthusiasm,” Mentone Girls Grammar principal Natalie Charles said in a statement.
“She stood out as an agile and speedy forward in the school’s AFL team, however, it was probably off the field where she shone the most, building team spirit and encouraging her peers to do their best.
Landlocked Laos is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is especially popular with backpackers looking for fun and adventure sports.
Details of the alcohol poisoning began to emerge about a week after Jones and Bowles became ill on Nov. 13 following a night out drinking with a group in a remote town.
Thai authorities confirmed that Jones died of “brain swelling due to the high levels of methanol found in her body”.
“Booze and methanol poisoning is all too common in many parts of the world,” Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said after receiving news of Jones’ death.
“At this point, I would say to parents, to young people, please talk about the risks, please get informed, please let’s work together to make sure this tragedy doesn’t happen again.”
New Zealand’s foreign affairs ministry said on Thursday that one of its nationals is also unwell in Laos and may be a victim of methanol poisoning.
“We have updated our travel advice for Laos to note that there have been several cases of methanol poisoning following the consumption of alcoholic beverages,” New Zealand’s foreign ministry said.
Passengers are advised to be careful when consuming alcoholic beverages, especially cocktails and drinks with strong alcoholic beverages that may be enriched with harmful substances.
Australia has also updated its travel advice, warning that several foreign nationals have been victims of alleged methanol poisoning in Laos this month. The US did not immediately issue updated travel warnings.
On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker hostel where the two Australian women stayed in Vang Vieng, told the AP that other guests had told staff the two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on November 13. , and organized transport for them to the hospital.
The women were then taken to Thailand for emergency medical treatment and their parents flew in to be with them.
“All Australians extend our deepest sympathies to them at this time of heartbreak,” Mr Albanese said.
“Bianca’s trip should have been a joyous time and a source of fond memories for years to come. It’s more sad that it didn’t happen.”
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