British woman who drank tainted alcohol in Laos is named fifth known death in case
London: A British woman who fell ill after drinking contaminated alcohol in Laos has died, the fifth foreign national now suspected to have died in the incident.
British media reported on Thursday that 28-year-old Simone White, a lawyer from southeast London, was among the tourists who died after consuming drinks laced with methanol, a toxic alcohol.
Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos. Credit: Facebook
“We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities,” Britain’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Four other tourists – including Australian Bianca Jones, two Danes and an American – have died in the incident in Vang Vieng, a town in the Southeast Asian nation popular with foreign backpackers.
Jones, one of two Melbourne teenagers affected by the poisoning, died “surrounded by love”, her family said in a statement on Thursday.
Bianca Jones has died after being poisoned in the mass methanol poisoning incident in Laos.Credit: Facebook
She had been travelling with Holly Bowles, 19, who remains in hospital in Thailand fighting for her life.
Counterfeits of well-known alcohol brands, and home-made spirits are a problem in Laos, with the governments of Australia and Britain warning citizens to be cautious when taking drinks there.
Reuters
