American tourist among four people who died after drinking tainted alcohol in a party town in Laos

Vientiane, Laos (AP) – An Australian teenager has died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos, in what Australia’s prime minister on Thursday called every parent’s nightmare. Authorities said after reports that an American and two Danish tourists also died in the popular tourist town where many people have fallen ill.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng, Laos, for treatment at a Thai hospital. Her friend, also 19, is still in hospital in neighboring Thailand.

“This is every parent’s worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to experience,” Albanese said. “We take this moment to say we are thinking of Bianca’s friend Holly Bowles who is fighting for her life.”

They are believed to have consumed drinks contaminated with methanol, which is sometimes added to drinks in sleazy bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol but can cause serious poisoning or death.

Phone numbers listed for the Lao Ministry of Health were not working, and police declined to comment on the incident.

Australia reported that “several foreigners” were also victims of methanol poisoning. The U.S. Department of State confirmed that an American also died in Vang Vieng, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that two Danish citizens also died in the “Laos incident,” but neither of them commented directly on the connection to the methanol poisoning that killed Jones .

On Wednesday, Shaun Bowles told reporters outside a hospital in Bangkok that his daughter was in critical condition and on life support.

“We would just like to thank everyone at home for all the support and love we receive,” he said. “But we would like people to appreciate it now. We just need privacy so we can spend as much time with Holly as possible.”

In a statement to the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper, Jones’ family asked for privacy in their mourning.

“She was surrounded by love and we take comfort in knowing that her incredible spirit touched so many lives while she was with us,” the family wrote.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love and prayers we have received from across Australia.”

The U.S. Department of State said local authorities were investigating the case and responsible for providing full details, and that the United States was providing consular assistance.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the family for their loss,” the State Department said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

Landlocked Laos is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular with tourists looking for events and extreme sports.

Details about alcohol poisoning began to emerge about a week after two Australian women fell ill on November 13 after a night out drinking with a group in a remote city.

Thai authorities confirmed that Jones died from “brain swelling caused by high levels of methanol in her system.”

“In many parts of the world, excessive alcohol consumption and methanol poisoning are far too common,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said after learning of Jones’ death.

“At this point, I would like to say to parents and young people: please talk about the threats, get educated, please let us work together so that this tragedy does not happen again.”

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that one of its citizens was also unwell in Laos and may have been the victim of methanol poisoning.

“We have updated our travel advisory for Laos to include several suspected cases of methanol poisoning following the consumption of alcoholic beverages,” New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“Travellers are advised to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages, especially cocktails and spirits, which may have been adulterated with harmful substances.”

Australia also updated its travel advice, warning that several foreigners had been victims of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos this month. The United States did not immediately issue an updated travel advisory.

On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel where the two Australian women were staying in Vang Vieng, told the AP that other guests had told staff that the two women were feeling unwell after they did not check out as planned on November 2. 13 and organized transport for them to the hospital.

The women were then taken to Thailand for medical treatment, and their parents flew out to be with them.

“All Australians extend our deepest sympathies to them at this time of heartbreak,” Albanese said.

“Bianca’s journey should be a joyful time and a source of fond memories for years to come,” he said. “It is extremely sad that this did not happen.”

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The uprising will be reported from Bangkok. Jutarat Skulpichetrat in Bangkok, Rod McGuirk in Melbourne, Australia and Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington, New Zealand contributed to this story.