Two Australian teenagers are fighting for their lives in Thailand after a suspected methanol poisoning in neighbouring Laos, with the family of one them saying they were struggling to comprehend what had happened.
Friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles from Melbourne had been staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng, north of the Laos capital, Vientiane, when they fell critically ill last week, 3AW reported.
The families of the teenagers have flown from Melbourne to Thailand to be with the pair, according to the president of the Beaumaris football club where both girls had played.
The pair “fell victim to an apparent case of methanol poisoning” and were fighting for their lives in Thai hospitals, the chair of News Corp’s Herald & Weekly Times, Penny Fowler, said in an email to staff. Fowler confirmed that Jones’s mother is employed by the newspaper group.
Jones’s family told the Herald Sun they could not believe what had happened to their “angel”.
“Our beautiful Bianca was on a dream getaway with her best friend Holly,” they told the publication.
“They were filled with joy and had such incredible adventures ahead of them, travelling through Asia.
“We are here by Bianca’s bedside praying for her.
“Please respect our privacy at this difficult time.”
The location of the suspected poisoning has not been identified.
Nana Hostel owner Duong van Huan told the ABC the women, believed to be 19, had been drinking at a bar and were taken to hospital after becoming unwell on Wednesday morning.
“This has never happened at the hostel. My business takes care of everyone. We never do anything wrong,” the owner told the broadcaster.
“I’m not sure what happened but at the hostel we only sell drinks, whisky, cocktails and police have already checked everything.
“All of the alcohol we have is safe. In eight years, this has never happened.”
Bowles and Jones had played football for Beaumaris football club. Nick Heath, the club’s president, told Guardian Australia the community was “rocked” by the news the pair had been hospitalised.
“Their teammates are distraught. As a club we are trying to wrap our arms around them,” he said.
Heath described the pair as “much-loved teammates” and “highly respected competitors on the field”.
“They had earned the respect of their teammates … [who] are all very anxious about the situation,” he said.
Bowles’s father was an assistant coach this year for the team his daughter played in, Heath said.
“It was great – father and daughter were together in a great footy environment which has made this all the more difficult because of the strong sense of family and community our footy club represents,” he said.
Heath said Jones had played on the club’s junior team until about two years ago.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular assistance was being provided to two Australians and their families in Thailand.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” a spokesperson said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
Victorian minister Steve Dimopoulos described it as a tragedy.
“What was meant to be a beautiful holiday full of memories has ended in absolute tragedy, and we all think of people that we love who travel for the joy,” Dimopoulos told reporters on Tuesday.
“My thoughts go out to them and their families, and we’ll obviously find out what exactly happened, but it’s an absolute tragedy.”
It’s understood Jones and Bowles pair graduated from secondary schools in Melbourne’s south-east in 2023.
