Melbourne teen Bianca Jones has died from methanol poisoning in a Thai hospital, a week after the Melbourne teen and her best friend fell ill while travelling in neighbouring Laos.
Anthony Albanese confirmed the 19-year-old’s death on Thursday, after her parents travelled to Thailand to be with her.
Thai authorities later confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.
“Our first thoughts at this moment are with her family and friends who are grieving a terrible and cruel loss,” the prime minister told parliament.
The Jones family told the Herald Sun she was “surrounded by love”.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away,” they said in a statement.
“She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted by the knowledge that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we’ve received from across Australia.
“The kindness shown to our family during this unimaginable time has been truly humbling.”
Jones and her best friend, Holly Bowles, both aged 19, had been staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng, north of the Laos capital Vientiane, while on a “dream getaway” when they fell critically ill.
Bowles remains fighting for her life in a Thai hospital.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said drink spiking and methanol poisoning were “far too common” in many parts of the world.
“I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks, please inform yourselves. Please, let’s work together to ensure this tragedy doesn’t happen again,” she said.
Federal MP Zoe Daniels, whose electorate of Goldstein takes in Beaumaris, said Jones’s parents and brother were “suffering pain beyond measure”.
“I offer my sympathy and strength to Bianca’s family and to Holly’s parents Shaun and Samantha who remain at her bedside in Bangkok,” she said in a statement.
“I send the families of both these girls love and strength along with people all over the country who have been thinking of these two young Aussie girls who simply headed off together on a life adventure.”
New Zealand’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that one of its citizens was also unwell in Laos and could be a victim of methanol poisoning.
On Thursday, a US Department of State spokesperson also confirmed an American had died in the town – just days after Danish authorities said two of its citizens had died in Laos.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson did not link the death to methanol, and said local authorities were “responsible for determining the cause of death”.
While confirming two deaths in Laos, Denmark’s ministry of foreign affairs did not link them to methanol.
Earlier on Thursday, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, said her thoughts were with the families of Bowles and Jones.
“This is just heartbreaking to have your beautiful, young adults head off on an exciting adventure,” Allan told reporters on Thursday morning.
“For that exciting adventure to end in these awful, tragic circumstances is really heartbreaking for the families and obviously too for the many people in our community who love these two young women.”
Jones’s parents on Wednesday said they hoped authorities worked out exactly what happened “as soon as possible”.
Jones’s mother is employed by News Corp’s Herald and Weekly Times. Penny Fowler, chair of the HWT, told staff on Tuesday that the teenagers had fallen victim “to an apparent case of methanol poisoning”.
The location of the poisoning has not been confirmed by authorities.
The pair had played Australian rules football together at the Beaumaris football club, which on Wednesday extended its “love, best wishes and unconditional support to Holly and Bianca in their hour of need”.
Australia’s Smartraveller website urges tourists to be on the lookout for methanol poisoning, saying as little as one shot can be fatal.
It warns symptoms appear similar to drinking too much but can be “stronger”, leading to vision problems including blindness or death.
New Zealand’s foreign ministry said it had also updated its travel advisory for Laos, “to note that there have been several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks”.
“Travellers are advised to be cautious about consuming alcoholic beverages, particularly cocktails and drinks made with spirits that may have been adulterated with harmful substances.”
– with Associated Press
