An Australian teenager, Bianca Jones, tragically died on Thursday after consuming alcohol contaminated with methanol in Laos, making her the fourth foreign national suspected to have died from the incident.
The 19-year-old fell ill last week in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist town known for attracting foreign backpackers. Located about two hours north of the Laotian capital, Vientiane, the town has been the center of the recent alcohol contamination tragedy.
Jones was rushed to a hospital in neighboring Thailand on November 13 after becoming seriously ill. Despite medical efforts, she passed away on Thursday. Thai police in the city of Udon Thani confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, which resulted from consuming counterfeit alcohol. “The physician who examined her confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning from fake liquor,” said Phattanawong Chanphon, a Thai police official. “The methanol levels in her body were extremely high, which led to severe brain swelling.”
According to Australian media, Jones is the fourth foreign tourist to die after consuming the toxic alcohol, following two Danish nationals and an American.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences, describing the tragedy as “every parent’s worst fear and a nightmare no one should have to endure.” He also revealed that Jones’ 19-year-old friend, Holly Bowles, remains in critical condition in hospital.
The incident has raised alarms about the safety of alcoholic beverages in Laos. Both the Australian and British governments have issued warnings to their citizens about the risks of consuming spurious liquor in the country.
Methanol, a toxic alcohol, is often used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and fuel alternative, and is known for its dangerous effects on human health, as noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
