Mother of British Lawyer Who Died in Laos Issues Warning About Drinking Abroad

“If it can happen to her, it can happen to anybody”, the mother of British lawyer Simone White, who passed away in Laos due to suspected poisoning, has cautioned. Ms. White, 28, from Orpington, south-east London, was among several individuals hospitalized after consuming alcohol believed to contain methanol in Vang Vieng, a popular destination for backpackers. The incident resulted in the deaths of six tourists. Her mother, Sue White, advised international travelers in an interview with the Sunday Times: “Please be careful when it comes to drinks.” “Simone was a university-educated, highly intelligent person,” she stated, adding, “If it can happen to her, it can happen to anybody.” Ms. White informed the publication that she received a phone call from the hospital attending to Simone, notifying her that her daughter was in critical condition following the consumption of tainted vodka and required immediate brain surgery. She recounted, “I knew when I had that phone call — I don’t know what it was, call it a mother’s intuition — but I knew that she was going to die.” She detailed embarking on a 16-hour trip to be with her daughter, characterizing it as a “terrible, terrible journey”. “I had to go through the whole flight thinking she was going through brain surgery,” she explained. Ms. White stated that she reached the hospital precisely as Simone was being transported for the procedure. “It was horrendous. Absolutely horrendous.“ She added, “She had such beautiful long blonde hair, which had all been shaved off for the operation. It was the worst experience of my life. There are no words, really.” Subsequently, it was determined that her brain function had ceased, and her death occurred on 21 November. Reports indicate that her remains are scheduled for repatriation this weekend, prior to her funeral service. The newspaper reported that on the evening she became unwell, Simone and her companions consumed six vodka shots provided by Nana Backpackers hostel. These beverages are believed to have contained methanol, a lethal compound frequently present in illicitly produced alcohol. According to medical experts, ingesting as little as 25 millilitres of methanol can prove fatal; however, it is occasionally incorporated into beverages due to its lower cost compared to ethanol. Simone’s two childhood friends, who were accompanying her on the trip, survived the ordeal but are reportedly suffering from trauma. Authorities in Laos have apprehended multiple individuals in relation to the deaths of Simone White and five other victims. Nevertheless, national officials have divulged minimal information concerning the incident, as the government maintains strict control over details. Laos operates as a one-party communist state, lacking any organized political opposition. Simone was employed as a lawyer at the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs.