Doc who tried to save Laos ‘methanol shot’ victim reveals horror speed of poisoning as mystery still surrounds tragedy
Within 30 minutes, a youngster who was suspected of having methanol poisoning went from confused to unconscious, according to a doctor who attempted to save her life.
In Laos, south-east Asia, Holly Bowles, 19, and five other tourists were killed after consuming complimentary shots that were thought to be tainted with methanol.
Simone White, a British barrister, and two Danish ladies, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, were among the fatalities.
Just one day after her friend Bianca Jones, 19, Holly, of Melbourne, Australia, passed away on Friday from what was believed to be poisoning.
When they did not check out early on the morning of November 13, the hostel staff got anxious.
Two nights before, the two adolescents had passed out at the Nana Backpacker Hostel after consuming what appeared to be poisoned alcohol.
More on the Laos tragedy
Dr. Yaher treated Holly in the district hospital in the town of Vang Vieng after she was taken to the hospital.
He described how she declined rapidly and fell into a coma in less than 30 minutes.
“She was sleepy and confused,” Dr. Yaher told The Times.
“We asked her what she had eaten or drunk, but she didn’t know what had happened.”
After having a seizure, Holly entered a coma and was rushed to a different hospital.
After receiving medical care in neighboring Thailand, she passed away on November 22 after nine days.
Grieving parents lead emotional tributes to beautiful Brit lawyer poisoned by methanol-laced booze in Laos
She went on a “dream getaway” with her friend Bianca, who passed away the day before.
A GoFundMe page has raised over 120,000 dollars in support of their families’ current campaign to increase awareness about methanol poisoning.
The page states: “The families of Bianca and Holly organized this campaign to increase public awareness of the risks of methanol poisoning, a silent but fatal condition that frequently takes lives without warning.
“We want to honour the memory of Bianca, Holly, and others impacted by methanol poisoning by turning this tragedy into a mission for change.”
The money generated will go toward funding awareness campaigns, supporting ongoing projects, and returning their corpses home.
It coincides with confirmation from Australia’s Federal Police (AFP) that it has volunteered to support the Laos probe.
“The AFP is communicating with pertinent law enforcement officials and will offer assistance or capability upon request,” an AFP spokesperson stated.
“The AFP also has a permanently-based liaison officer in the region.”
Simone White, 28, was one of the victims of the feared mass poisoning.
After receiving complimentary shots that were allegedly tampered with, the lawyer from Orpington, Kent, passed away last Thursday.
Simone’s mom is devastated. The Sun earlier reported that Sue White said, “They had to wait an hour for the ambulance and by the time they got there, Simone was delirious and had trouble breathing.”In my opinion, it had already had an impact on her brain.
James Hutson, 56, an American tourist, was the sixth victim; he was discovered unconscious in his hotel room on November 13.
Up to twelve travelers—five of whom are British—remain hospitalized.
A New Zealand visitor who became unwell after consuming tainted beer has been allowed to go back home.
In Laos, anxious hikers are now refraining from taking free shots out of concern that they might contain methanol, an industrial ingredient frequently found in illegal alcohol.
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During their investigation, local police detained the hostel’s manager and owner.
Duong Duc Toan, the hostel’s manager and bartender, had earlier denied that any of the beverages offered there could have caused the vacationers to become unwell.
What is methanol?
By Health Correspondent Sam Blanchard
Drinks that have been improperly brewed or distilled, or that have been added by thieves to make them stronger, may contain METHANOL, a highly deadly form of alcohol.
A single shot of tainted alcohol might be fatal, and 4 milliliters of methanol could be sufficient to cause blindness. The repercussions could be catastrophic.
According to Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology chemist Prof. Oliver Jones, the body changes methanol into formic acid.
An enzyme that is essential to the body’s usage of oxygen to produce energy is inhibited by formic acid.
If it malfunctions, cells are unable to absorb or utilize oxygen from the blood, and when cells begin to die, a shortage of oxygen leads to issues in many organs.
Seizures, lightheadedness, and vomiting are signs of methanol poisoning.
Methanol poisoning appears to be especially harmful to the optic nerve, which increases the risk of either temporary or permanent blindness and even death.
Although fortunately uncommon, methanol poisoning is extremely dangerous and should only be treated in a hospital.
Getting the patient intoxicated with regular alcohol, or ethanol, is an unexpected but crucial treatment for methanol poisoning because it diverts the liver’s attention and prevents it from digesting the methanol.
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