Australian teen dies from tainted liquor in Laos

SYDNEY/BANGKOK — An Australian teenager died on Thursday after drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol in Laos, Thai police and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, the fourth foreign national now suspected to have died in the incident.
Bianca Jones, 19, fell ill last week in Vang Vieng, a town popular with foreign backpackers that is about two hours north of the Lao capital Vientiane by road.
She died on Thursday after being taken to a hospital in Udon Thani in neighbouring Thailand on Nov 13, Pol Col Phattanawong Chanphon, superintendent of Muang police station in the northeastern province said.
“The physician who examined her said the cause of death was a methanol poisoning, from fake liquor,” the police official told Reuters.
“The amount of methanol in her body was high, leading to swelling of the brain.”
Australian media said Jones was the fourth foreign tourist to die after consuming the contaminated alcohol, following two Danes and an American.
“This is every parent’s worst fear and a nightmare no one should have to endure,” Albanese told parliament on Thursday. “All Australians offer them our deepest sympathy in this time of heartbreak.”
Jones’ friend Holly Bowles, also 19, is in critical condition on life support in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said earlier.
Spurious liquor is a problem in Laos, with the governments of Australia and Britain warning citizens to be cautious when taking drinks there.
Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website.