A British lawyer, Simone White, 28, from Orpington, south-east London, has tragically passed away after suspected methanol poisoning, which is believed to have claimed the lives of four others in Laos, Southeast Asia. Simone was among several individuals who were hospitalized following the incident in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist destination. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed that it is providing assistance to Simone’s family during this difficult time. Earlier, it was reported that Bianca Jones, 19, from Australia, also died as a result of the poisoning. The US State Department announced that an American citizen had also passed away. Additionally, two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, lost their lives last week, according to Danish authorities.
Reports from news outlets and social media posts from other tourists suggest that the victims may have ingested drinks contaminated with methanol, a toxic substance commonly found in illicit alcohol. Several of the individuals affected were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. Staff at the hostel became aware of the situation when guests did not check out on 13 November and were later found to have fallen seriously ill.
Simone White, who was a lawyer at the global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, specialized in general commercial law and both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property issues, according to the firm’s website. Vang Vieng, a small riverside town in central Laos, is located about two hours north of the capital, Vientiane. The town is a popular stop for backpackers traveling through Southeast Asia, and it is part of the well-known Banana Pancake Trail, a backpacking route that stretches across Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Holly Bowles, a friend of Bianca Jones from Australia, is reportedly in hospital on life support, according to Australian media. New Zealand’s foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that one of its citizens is also suspected to be suffering from methanol poisoning. The Dutch foreign affairs ministry has stated that a Dutch tourist was hospitalized and is currently in stable condition. The total number of people affected by the poisoning remains unclear.
The US State Department has announced that it is “closely monitoring” the situation concerning the American victim, noting that local authorities are responsible for determining the cause of death. Authorities in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK have issued warnings to their citizens about the risk of methanol poisoning when consuming alcohol in Laos.
Methanol is a colorless liquid that has a taste similar to alcohol. Even consuming a small amount can be fatal. Once ingested, methanol is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the gut. The body attempts to process it in the liver, where an enzyme converts it into formaldehyde and formic acid. According to Prof Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, this process can have severe effects, including disrupting breathing and damaging nerves.
Methanol poisoning often leads to partial or complete blindness, and if not treated, it can result in a coma or death. Treatment typically involves administering ethanol, which competes with methanol for metabolism, but it must be done promptly to be effective