A British lawyer who is among six tourists to have died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos has been remembered by her family as a much loved woman who had a “spark for life”.
Tributes from heartbroken loved ones and colleagues flowed in for Orpington solicitor Simone White, 28, who died along with two Australian backpackers, two Danes, and an American after becoming unwell while visiting the riverside party town of Vang Vieng.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone. Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life,” Ms White’s parents said in a statement.
“She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues. Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family.”
Ms White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, which described her in a statement as “a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised (our firm’s) values.”
Ms White died after she reportedly fell ill last week while staying in the backpacking hotspot with her friend Bethany Clarke, also from Orpington, who said she had been in hospital after the incident as well.
In a post on a Laos backpacking Facebook group on 16 November, which has since been deleted, Ms Clarke wrote: “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.”
Methanol is sometimes used as the alcohol in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause severe poisoning or death. The NHS warns that as little as 4ml of methanol can cause visual hallucinations and blindness.
Ms Whites’ parents said their hearts went out to all other families “affected by this terrible tragedy” following the news that Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles, 19, had become the second Australian traveller to die in hospital a day after her best friend and sporting teammate Bianca Jones, also 19, passed away.
In a statement posted on social media earlier this morning, UK time, Australia’s foreign affairs minister Penny Wong offered her “deepest sympathies” to Ms Bowles’ family and friends and said all Australians would be heartbroken by her passing.
“Just yesterday Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones. I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts,” Ms Wong said.
“The Australian government will continue to support Holly’s and Bianca’s families, just as we will continue our efforts with local authorities on investigations into this tragedy.”
Ms Bowles’ father, Shaun Bowles, told Nine News: “It is with broken hearts, and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.”
Ms Bowles and Ms Jones played for the same suburban Melbourne Australian rules football club, Beaumaris, which posted a statement earlier this week paying tribute to Ms Jones following her death.
“Bianca’s infectious charm and tenacity made her a fondly regarded teammate and friend. Her smile, exuberance and happy nature made her a delight to be around,” the club wrote, adding Ms Jones and Bowles were not only teammates, but best friends.
It comes as Thai police have detained the owner and the manager of Nana Backpacker Hostel, where affected travellers who visited the town were staying, however no one has been charged over the incident.
An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office said a “number of people” had been detained in the case, with staff at the hostel confirming that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.
On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the hostel, told the Associated Press that staff were told by other guests that two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on 13 November. The hostel arranged transport to a hospital for them, he said.
It is not known where the contaminated drinks were served.
According to The Times, Mr Toan said more than 100 guests had received free shots as a gesture of hospitality, but said that the alcohol was from a certified distributor and had not been tainted.
