Fifth death confirmed in Laos poisoning
A young British lawyer has died in hospital after a suspected mass poisoning that has claimed the lives of four others.
On Thursday, Melbourne teen Bianca Jones became the fourth person to die from suspected methanol poisoning following the deaths of two Danish women and an American who had all been holidaying in the in the party town of Vang Vieng.
Lawyer Simone White, 28, was among a dozen other tourists taken to hospital after visiting the backpacker town, with Thai police confirming her death on Friday morning.
In a statement to 7News, a spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed a death in Laos, saying, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
Her friend Bethany Clarke, who was with White on holiday, urged tourists in the region to “avoid all local spirits” after their group of six fell ill.
“Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it,” she wrote in a Laos backpacking Facebook group.
“Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Jones, 19, in federal parliament on Thursday after news of her death was shared, as her friend Holly Bowles continues to fight for her life in a Bangkok hospital.
“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure,” Albanese said.
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