The family of Simone White, a British lawyer who died from suspected poisoning in Laos, have released a statement expressing their devastation at the “terrible tragedy”. White, 28, died in a hospital after drinking alcohol believed to have been laced with methanol in the popular tourist destination of Vang Vieng. She was one of six tourists to die from suspected poisoning. White’s parents described her as a “soul who gave so much to so many”. Her employer, law firm Squire Patton Boggs, spoke of their sadness at the loss of a “talented colleague with a bright future” who “epitomised our firm values”.
The spate of deaths in Vang Vieng is believed to have been caused by the consumption of alcohol containing the highly toxic methanol, which is occasionally used by bootleggers as a cheaper alternative to ethanol. Medical experts have warned that consuming as little as 25 millilitres of methanol can be deadly, and symptoms may not appear until 24 hours after ingestion. One of the victims, Holly Bowles, was a 19-year-old Australian tourist visiting Laos with a friend, Bianca Jones, who has also fallen ill. The other victims were two Danish women and an unnamed US man.
Christer Hogstrand, a molecular ecotoxicology expert at King’s College London, said that methanol was often found in home-distilled alcoholic beverages. He explained that the substance has a different carbon atom structure to ethanol, which means the body processes it in a completely different way, potentially leading to fatal consequences. No one has yet been arrested in connection with the deaths, although the manager of the hostel where Bowles and Jones were staying has been held for questioning.
White’s colleagues and friends have expressed their sorrow at her loss, describing her as kind, thoughtful and genuine. The deaths have prompted travel warnings, with tourists being advised to avoid unregulated alcohol and to take extra care when drinking in south-east Asia. The Australian government has also urged tourists to avoid distilleries, backstreet bars and unlicensed street vendors
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