Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones’ devastated families have heaped pressure on Laos authorities to get to the bottom of a mass methanol poisoning tragedy.
The Australians, both 19, are among six foreign tourists who died from a suspected methanol poisoning event in Laos.
The friends from Beaumaris in Melbourne’s southeast had been on holiday in the landlocked Southeast Asian nation when they became ill along with a dozen other tourists in the popular town of Vang Vieng.
They failed to check out at the Nana Backpacker Hostel on November 13 after going to the Jaidee Bar.
Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were evacuated to Thailand and died in separate Bangkok hospitals after their families raced to be by their bedsides.
In his first public statement, Bianca’s father said his daughter was on the trip of a lifetime and wanted to explore the world to meet new friends.
“Her life had just begun,” Mark Jones told reporters in Bangkok on Saturday.
“She was a young woman that had a lust for life.
“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”
Thai authorities have confirmed Ms Jones died of “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.
On behalf of both Australian families, Mr Jones urged the Laos government to investigate the incident to the “fullest extent” to avoid it happening again.
“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others,” he said.
Friends and family members have organised a GoFundMe for the Australians‘ families which has raised more than $20,000.
Australian media has reported the women’s bodies could be flown home as early as this week.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was working closely with Lao authorities
“We are clear with our Lao counterparts that Australians expect those investigations to be thorough and transparent to try to prevent a repeat of such tragic events,” a spokesman told AAP.
“We have also brought together representatives from other countries who have citizens impacted including Denmark, UK, US and others to co-ordinate approaches.”
The Australian government has updated its travel advice for Laos, telling residents to be alert to the potential risk of spirit-based drinks including cocktails.
The one-party communist Laotian government acknowledged the mass poisoning event for the first time on Saturday.
It was “profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists” and offered its condolences to the families of the victims.
“The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,” the Laos government said in a short media statement.
Local police have said they detained multiple people but have otherwise remained tight-tipped.
The suspected methanol poisoning event has been linked to six deaths so far, including the two Australians.
The UK Foreign Office named 28-year-old British woman Simone White as another of the victims.
An American man and two Danes also died, although their exact causes of death have not been released.
A New Zealander has also fallen ill.
It’s believed all the affected tourists, consumed drinks laced with methanol.
with AP
