I went BLIND after drinking ‘methanol-laced booze’ in Laos death hostel just days before 6 died, says Brit backpacker

A BRIT tourist who consumed two shots of alcohol at a Laotian hostel has described how the allegedly methanol-tainted alcohol caused her to go blind.

The anonymous visitor received “free vodka” at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which also provided free shots to two teenagers who subsequently passed away from what is believed to have been methanol poisoning.

She rapidly deteriorated into a terrible illness, suffering from breathing difficulties, vomiting for a full day, and temporary blindness.

She told The Herald Sun: “I spent the day alternating between my room and the bathroom, simply throwing up, and I just thought I was hungover.

“I couldn’t see, so I had my eyes closed as I made my way to the bathroom. When I phoned my partner, he told me to go to the hospital and seek some help.

Her terrible encounter occurred in Laos just days before suspected methanol poisoning claimed the lives of six individuals, including a British barrister.

Just before 3 p.m., the backpacker received the complimentary shots before going river tubing with buddies.

Three others of her party of fifteen also became ill, and she eventually lost all memory of the incident.

She arrived at the hospital with a heart rate twice normal, and doctors had to keep her on a saline drip for hours.

The vacationer described how she had met some of the six deceased travelers and expressed her sadness for Holly, Bianca, and their families.

She went on, “I just feel terrible for them,”

Teenagers in MelbourneAfter saving money for a post-school excursion, 19-year-olds Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were traveling on their ideal vacation together.

They were among the “100 guests” who received complimentary vodka shots from the managers of the same Nana hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, last week.

When they didn’t check out the next day, hostel visitors informed personnel of their circumstances.

Bianca was flown to Bangkok Hospital in Thailand, where she was placed on life support, while Holly was reportedly evacuated to a hospital in the capital city of Vientiane, Laos.

After flying out to be by their bedsides, Bianca’s and Holly’s family confirmed the tragic news that Bianca died on Thursday, November 21, and Holly died the next day.

Another Kentish lawyer, Simone White, 28, perished from the alleged mass poisoning.

She and her friend Bethany Clarke were rushed to the hospital, though it is unclear where she reportedly drank the poisoned drink.

Following the pair’s illness last week, Bethany shared a terrifying message on the Laos Backpacking Facebook page.

“Urgently, please stay away from all local spirits,” she warned.

“We drank complimentary shots from one of the pubs while our group was 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.

Additionally, one American guy in his 50s and two anonymous Danish ladies in their 20s have perished.

In an attempt to piece together the horrific case that has cost six lives, police have opened an investigation and are questioning hostel employees.

Where the reportedly methanol-laced cocktails were sipped and the precise number of sick visitors still in the hospital are unknown.

Although no charges have been brought yet, the hostel told AP that the manager and owner had been detained by police for interrogation.

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.

For the first time, the Laotian authorities discussed the horrific event in public on Saturday.

According to the statement, officials are “profoundly saddened” by the foreign tourists’ deaths.

In addition, the administration expressed its sympathies to the families of the deceased and pledged to investigate the matter further.

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.”

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