Australian Teen Succumbs to Methanol Poisoning in Laos
Bianca Jones, 19, is the fourth foreigner to die due to contaminated alcohol.
Bianca Jones, a 19-year-old from Australia, died from methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, Laos, a popular backpacker spot located 154 km north of Vientiane.
Her untimely death on Thursday followed her admission to a hospital in neighboring Thailand on November 13.
Col. Phattanawong Chanphon of Muang Police Station in Udon Thani province reported that the cause of death was confirmed as methanol poisoning, leading to severe brain swelling.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, offering his sympathies, noted that Jones is the fourth foreign fatality in this incident, alongside two Danes and an American.
Methanol, a toxic substance often improperly used in fake liquors, poses significant health hazards, as emphasized by international warnings.
Jones' friend, Holly Bowles, also 19, is currently in critical condition.
The Australian and British governments have advised travelers in Laos to exercise caution regarding alcohol consumption due to the widespread issue of counterfeit liquor.
Her untimely death on Thursday followed her admission to a hospital in neighboring Thailand on November 13.
Col. Phattanawong Chanphon of Muang Police Station in Udon Thani province reported that the cause of death was confirmed as methanol poisoning, leading to severe brain swelling.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, offering his sympathies, noted that Jones is the fourth foreign fatality in this incident, alongside two Danes and an American.
Methanol, a toxic substance often improperly used in fake liquors, poses significant health hazards, as emphasized by international warnings.
Jones' friend, Holly Bowles, also 19, is currently in critical condition.
The Australian and British governments have advised travelers in Laos to exercise caution regarding alcohol consumption due to the widespread issue of counterfeit liquor.
