The hostel owner at the centre of alleged methanol poisonings in Laos which has led to the death of five people has reportedly been detained by police.
British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, died yesterday after falling ill along with more than a dozen others in the popular backpacking town Vang Vieng.
She became the fifth person to die after drinking free shots on November 12 which are thought to have been laced with methanol. At least 11 other people remain in hospital.
Australian Bianca Jones, two Danish women in their 20s and an American citizen had already passed away from methanol poisoning.
Ms White, Ms Jones and her friend Holly Bowles were all staying at Nana Backpacjers Hostel, where they were given free shots of liquor.
Now the owner of the hostel has been detained by local police, ABC News reports.
But staff previously vehemently denied shots given at their bar were responsible for the mass poisoning.
Ms White was an associate lawyer based in London specialising in intellectual property and technology at American law firm Squire Patton Boggs.
Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to have died after falling ill last week
Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, sadly died after consuming alleged ‘methanol-laced’ drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos
Australian Holly Bowles (pictured) was on holiday with her schoolfriend in the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng
After completing her A-levels at St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, she studied law at Newcastle University before taking the fast-track course at the BPP law school.
Ms White’s friend, Bethany Clarke, a healthcare worker also from Orpington, took to the Laos Backpacking Facebook group to warn other travellers.
She said: ‘Urgent — please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.’
Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan, who served shots to Ms Jones – who remains in hospital in a critical condition – and Ms Bowles, denied it was his Tiger Vodka that made the girls sick.
He claims he only buys alcohol from legitimate sellers and even drank from a bottle he himself to ‘prove it was safe’.
Toan said the free shots were offered to around 100 guests and said there had been no other complaints.
The best friends were on a ‘dream getaway’ gap year trip across south-east Asia when authorities suspect they drank poisoned drinks which reportedly contained shots of ‘vodka’ tainted with methanol.
Methanol can sometimes wind up in alcoholic drinks in southeast Asia as a cheaper, counterfeit alternative to ethanol.
Staff became concerned after they failed to check out on November 13 and arranged to take the pair to hospital after they ‘calmly’ asked for assistance.
Hostel CCTV shows one of the girls being transported to hospital on the back of a moped.
Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured), has claimed it wasn’t his Tiger Vodka that made the girls sick
Staff at Nana Backpackers Hostel have been interrogated by police who have demanded to see bottles of spirits served on the night the poisoning occurred
Tourists kayaking in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos where five people have died from alleged methanol poisoning
The Foreign Office has issued guidance to Britons travelling to the country, warning them against consuming replica alcohol brands that may contain hidden amounts of methanol.
It warns that male and female tourists have reported having their food or drink spiked with drugs, and that travellers should be cautious about accepting spirit-based drinks following the recent methanol poisonings.
The Foreign Officer confirmed on Thursday that it was supporting Ms White’s family.
Ms Jones’ parents, who live in Australia, broke their silence on Wednesday to reveal they hope local police can swiftly find out what happened.
‘Our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support that have come from across Australia,’ they told the Herald Sun.
‘This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the anguish we are going through.
‘We hope the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible.’
Ms Bowles’ father, Shaun Bowles, said his family has spent every minute possible by Holly’s side.
He told reporters outside Bangkok Hospital on Wednesday: ‘Right now our daughter remains in an intensive care unit, in critical condition, she’s on life support.
‘We would just like to thank everyone from back home for all their support and love that we are receiving.
‘We would also like for people to appreciate right now, we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly.’
The two teens had booked in a four-night stay at Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they had been drinking and playing cards at the bar on the night they were poisoned.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
