A second Australian teenager, Holly Bowles, 19, has died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, bringing the death toll from tainted alcohol to six foreign tourists. Bowles, who had been traveling through Southeast Asia, passed away over a week after falling ill in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng. Her death follows that of her friend Bianca Jones, also 19, and British lawyer Simone White, 28, who were confirmed to have died earlier this week.
In addition to the three confirmed deaths, a US man and two Danish women, aged 19 and 20, are also believed to be victims of the suspected poisoning linked to bootleg alcohol. Bowles’ family expressed their grief in a statement, sharing that they took comfort knowing she had lived her life to the fullest, meeting new people and having incredible experiences before her tragic death.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong offered her condolences, saying, “All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and friends.”
Bowles and Jones were hospitalized on November 13 after failing to check out of their hostel in Vang Vieng, located about two hours north of the capital Vientiane. Reports suggest the tourists may have consumed alcohol contaminated with methanol, a deadly substance commonly found in bootleg spirits. The Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the teenagers stayed, reportedly distributed free shots to around 100 guests the night before the incident. However, the hostel’s manager confirmed that no other guests fell ill and has since been detained by police for questioning.
Australia has urged Lao authorities to provide transparency regarding the investigation into the deaths, and officials from New Zealand and the Netherlands have also expressed concern for their nationals involved in the incident. Vang Vieng is a well-known backpacker hub along the Banana Pancake Trail, a popular route through Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
