Families of Australians Deceased in Laos Welcome Detentions, Seek Answers

The relatives of two Australian teenagers who died in Laos from suspected methanol poisoning have expressed approval following reports of eight detentions during the ongoing police inquiry into the event. Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, were two of six international visitors whose deaths are linked to the apparent consumption of the poisonous chemical, frequently used in illicit alcoholic beverages. The remains of the Australian victims were repatriated to Melbourne late Tuesday, with their family members accompanying them. Mark, Ms Jones’s father, informed journalists, “We miss our daughters desperately. I was happy to hear that there’s been some movement over in Laos – we cannot have our girls passing and this continuing to happen.” Local media outlets reported that the eight individuals taken into custody for questioning on Tuesday were employees of the Nana Backpackers hostel, the accommodation for all the deceased. The proprietors of the hostel, which has since ceased operations, had earlier refuted allegations of providing illegal alcohol. At Melbourne Airport, Mr Jones appealed to the Laotian government to “continue to pursue” the investigation, stating that the affected families intended to “raise awareness of methanol poisoning.” The identities of the other four victims are Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from the UK; James Louis Hutson, a 57-year-old American; and Danish nationals Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21. Mr Hutson’s body was discovered in his hostel room on 13 November, surrounded by several empty glasses. That same morning, Ms Orkild Coyman and Ms Vennervald Sorensen were also discovered unconscious in their respective rooms and transported urgently to the local hospital. The total number of additional individuals who might have become unwell due to the suspected poisoning remains unknown, and the inquiry into these fatalities is ongoing. The manager of the hostel was one of several individuals interviewed by law enforcement last week. Previously, he informed the Associated Press that Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were the sole tourists at the establishment who reported feeling ill after consuming complimentary shots there before their evening outing. Methanol, a colorless chemical substance frequently present in industrial and domestic items like paint thinners, is occasionally incorporated into illegally produced alcohol. Ingesting merely 25ml, approximately equivalent to half a shot, can be fatal, yet symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain may not manifest for up to 24 hours. Methanol poisoning has historically posed a problem throughout South East Asia, especially in the less affluent nations bordering the Mekong river, with the wider area experiencing the highest global incidence of such events. The recent series of deaths has drawn attention to Vang Vieng, a well-known party destination, and led to renewed advisories from international governments regarding alcohol consumption in Laos. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.