Second Melbourne Teen, Holly Bowles, Dies After Suspected Methanol Poisoning in Laos
Holly Bowles, a 19-year-old from Melbourne, has died after what is thought to have been a methanol poisoning incident in Laos. Bowles died in a Bangkok hospital after being on life support for a while. This happened just one day after her best friend Bianca Jones also died from the same poisoning. Six people have died in the event so far. They were tourists from Denmark, the US, and the UK on vacation.
The event took place in Vang Vieng, a town famous for being a popular spot for hikers. It was at the Nana Backpacker Hostel that Bowles and Jones drank drinks with methanol in them. Even small amounts of methanol, a poisonous chemical that is often added secretly to drinking drinks in places with lax booze laws, can kill or severely harm someone.
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The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has changed its travel advice for Laos to warn people to be careful with cocktails and other drinks that contain spirits. Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, sent his sympathies, saying, “This should have been a trip full of joy and wonderful memories.” My thoughts are with her friends and family.
The owner of the hostel where Bowles and Jones stayed has been arrested in Laos. At first, the hotel said that the poisoned drinks did not come from its bar. The study is still going on, and foreign and local officials are working together to find the cause of the methanol pollution.
There is a lot of sadness in Melbourne because of the deaths of Bowles and Jones. Friends and family of the two young women have talked about how sad they are and how they remember them. The women were said to be lively and full of life. A lot of people are also worried about the safety of drinking drinks in visitor places. This has led to calls for rules and enforcement to be tighter.
While the investigation goes on, the Australian government and local groups are helping the families of the people who died. The deaths of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones are terrible tragedies. They show how risky it is to fly and how important it is to be careful when you drink alcohol while you’re away.