Second Melbourne woman dies from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

The father of teenager Holly Bowles has confirmed that the Melbourne teenager has died in a Thai hospital after a suspected methanol poisoning incident while holidaying in Laos.

Her death was confirmed one day after the passing of her best friend Bianca Jones, also 19, who had been treated in a separate Thai hospital.

Bowles and Jones fell ill after a night out in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng last week.

After being discovered seriously ill in their hostel, they were sent to separate hospitals in Thailand.

The news comes after the deaths of other foreign tourists from suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, including 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, two Danes and an American man.

At least 10 others are seriously ill after drinking spirits believed to have been laced with methanol, a cheap and deadly form of alcohol mostly found in crude or criminal brews.

More to come

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