Hostel owner detained by cops over death of Brit lawyer Simone White & 5 other backpackers after ‘free shots spiked’

The proprietor of a backpacker hostel where a group of visitors were staying was supposedly arrested by COPS before six of them perished from what was believed to be poisoning.

Simone White, a 28-year-old British lawyer from Orpington, Kent, passed away on Thursday after becoming ill from consuming free shots that were purportedly tainted with methanol when she was in Laos, South East Asia.

A number of people have been detained as part of the inquiry, but no charges have been brought yet, an unnamed Vang Vieng tourism police officer told AP today.

The hostel staff subsequently verified that the owner and management were among those detained by law enforcement.

The location is still open, but no new visitors are being accepted.

Police have not yet provided an official statement on the development or identified the people who are being held for interrogation.

It is believed that at least some of the vacationers impacted by the incident were lodging at the hostel, where they were allegedly given free shots.

The location informed ABC that their bar did not serve any poisoned drinks.

Since consuming them last week, six individuals have passed away, including Bianca Jones, a 19-year-old Melbourne resident, and her friend Holly Bowles.

Prior to her family announcing her death on Friday, Holly, 19, was in critical condition at a hospital in Bangkok close to the Thai border in Udon.

“With broken hearts, we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace,” her father Shaun told Nine News.

“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly bought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”

Additionally, an American male and two anonymous Danish women in their twenties have perished.

It is estimated that 12 further individuals, including British citizens, were left gravely ill.

Police are currently looking into the horrific event because reports and internet testimony from other travelers indicate that those impacted may have drank methanol-laced drinks.

Methanol is a hazardous chemical that is frequently present in illegal alcohol and utilized in industrial items such as photocopier fluid, paint thinners, antifreeze, and varnish.

Thai police confirmed Thursday that Australian adolescent Bianca’s death was due to “methanol poisoning” in an interview with Reuters.

According to an official, the doctor who examined her determined that methanol intoxication from counterfeit liquor was the cause of death.

“The amount of methanol in her body was high, leading to swelling of the brain.”

Regarding Bianca’s passing, Thai police commander Phattanawong Chanphon stated today: “She was unconscious from the moment she was taken from Laos and never regained consciousness, even after receiving medical attention.”

“The ingestion of methanol from counterfeit booze is probably what caused the fatality.

“It’s poison and cannot be consumed.”

Bianca was on a fantasy vacation with her best friend Holly, according to her distraught family.

“We share the news with the heaviest of hearts that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away,” they told the Aussie Herald Sun on Thursday.

“She was surrounded by love, and knowing that her amazing spirit touched so many hearts while she was with us gives us comfort.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we’ve received from across Australia.”

Last week, Simone’s friend Bethany Clarke, who is also in the hospital, sent out an urgent warning on the Laos Backpacking Facebook group.

“Urgently, please avoid all local spirits,” she wrote. We drank free shots from one of the pubs while we were in Vang Vieng.

“Just stay away from them; it’s not worth it. Currently, six of us who shared a drinking location are hospitalized due to methanol poisoning.

Bethany went on to say that she was extremely tired, fainted, felt queasy, and then her liver began to shut down.

She went on: I arrived at the private hospital on schedule, but I had to endure several infusions, medications, and recuperation days.

Yesterday, the Foreign Office affirmed that it was providing assistance to Simone’s family.

A spokesperson stated: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”

“The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs can confirm that two Danish citizens have died in Laos,” the ministry said in a statement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has nothing more to say because personal concerns are secret.

On Thursday, New Zealand’s foreign ministry informed local media that one of its nationals is also ill, possibly due to methanol poisoning.

Following Bianca’s passing, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on Thursday: “This is a horror that no one should have to go through and any parent’s worst nightmare.

“All Australians offer them our deepest sympathy in this time of heartbreak.”

“We also take this moment to say that were thinking of Biancas friend Holly Bowles who is fighting for her life,” Albanese said.

Dale, Holly’s uncle, told ABC earlier this week: “Being so far away makes things so tough.

“You just get a nauseating feeling in your stomach that won’t go away.

Right now, it’s basically a day-by-day procedure. We can only ask her to continue fighting at this stage.

He said Holly’s family are holding a bedside vigil as she fights for her life in a Thai hospital.

Travelers have already received warnings from the governments of Australia and Britain to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages in Laos.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and fuel source, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website.