A third Australian also fell ill after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos that has claimed six lives, Guardian Australia has confirmed.
Melburnians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, died in hospital in Thailand after the tragedy, which also claimed the lives of people from Denmark, the UK and the US.
Guardian Australia can reveal that a third Australian, a dual national, also fell ill as part of the suspected poisoning. It is understood they are in a stable condition and being supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat).
Dfat said in a statement that it was “continuing to provide consular assistance to the families of two Australians who have tragically passed away in Thailand.
“Our thoughts are with the families at this deeply distressing time.
“Australian officials in Laos and Thailand are working closely with local authorities. Investigations are underway and we are offering any assistance we can provide.”
Guardian Australia understands the bodies of the Melbourne women could be returned in the coming days.
“They were best friends in the best days of their lives,” the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, told parliament on Monday. “There is no crueller arithmetic than adding up the years not lived, the potential not fulfilled, the dreams not lived or that might have been,” he said.
Jones and Bowles were on holiday in Laos when they became ill along with a dozen other tourists in the popular town of Vang Vieng.
They failed to check out at the Nana backpacker hostel on 13 November after going to the Jaidee bar. The pair were evacuated to Thailand and died in separate Bangkok hospitals after their parents raced to be by their bedsides.
Jones’s father said his daughter was on the trip of a lifetime and wanted to explore the world to meet new friends.
“Her life had just begun,” Mark Jones told reporters in Bangkok on Saturday. “She was a young woman that had a lust for life.
“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”
Thai authorities have confirmed Jones died of “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.
On behalf of both Australian families, Jones urged the Laos government to investigate the incident to the “fullest extent” to avoid it happening again.
“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others,” he said.
Local media in Laos have reported eight people were detained over the deaths of the American man and two Danish women in Van Vieng, but there was no mention of the two Australians or the British woman who also died of suspected methanol poisoning.
The men detained were identified as hotel staff and management.
The Australian federal police have offered to help the Laos investigation into the deaths.
– With AAP
