Laos methanol poisoning victim Bianca Jones 'was on the trip of a lifetime' says heartbroken dad

The grieving begetter of Bianca Jones, 19, said she 'wanted to research the world' and the sojourn to Laos was portion of 'the travel of a lifetime' that was meant to beryllium 'the archetypal of many'

An Australian teenager who tragically died from suspected methanol poisoning "was connected the travel of a lifetime" with 1 of her champion friends, her heartbroken dada has said.

Bianca Jones and her pal Holly Bowles, some 19, fell sick aft a nighttime retired successful Vang Vieng, a Laos municipality fashionable with tourists. Ms Jones died connected Thursday and her person connected Friday.

Now, Bianca's father, Mark Jones, has spoken retired aft the calamity arsenic helium urged the authorities of Laos to analyse what happened. He besides said his girl "wanted to research the world, conscionable caller friends, pb and make alteration for good" and hoped to physique "lifelong memories" during her travel which "was to beryllium the archetypal of many."

Mr Jones told The Age: "This was meant to beryllium a travel afloat of lifelong memories, and was to beryllium the archetypal of many. Bianca wanted to research the world, conscionable caller friends, pb and make alteration for good."

In a plea to the Laos government, the grieving begetter added: "I would similar to instrumentality this accidental to impulse the Laos authorities to analyse this to the fullest extent, to marque definite this incidental doesn't hap again. We can't person the passing of our girl … not pb to alteration to support others."

It comes aft Holly's household said she was "living her champion live" portion travelling done South East Asia, "meeting caller friends and enjoying unthinkable experiences." They added: "We are truthful bittersweet to accidental that our beauteous miss Holly is present astatine peace. We find comfortableness and solace successful knowing Holly brought truthful overmuch joyousness and happiness to truthful galore people."

Among the six victims of the suspected poisoning was besides 28-year-ol British lawyer Simone White, whose household said successful a statement: "We are devastated by the nonaccomplishment of our beautiful, benignant and loving girl Simone. Simone was 1 of a benignant and had the astir fantastic vigor and spark for life. She was a psyche who gave truthful overmuch to truthful galore and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.

"Simone has been taken from america excessively soon, she volition beryllium sorely missed by her brother, grandma and full family. Our hearts spell retired to each different families who person been affected by this unspeakable tragedy." The different 3 travellers who person died are an American and 2 Danish tourists.

Earlier today, the Laos authorities said it is "profoundly saddened" and is investigating the deaths of six radical from suspected methanol poisoning. Police successful Laos person detained the manager and proprietor of a hostel implicit the six travellers' deaths.

In a connection released to the media, the Laos authorities said it was "profoundly saddened" implicit the deaths of overseas tourists and offered its condolences to their families. It added that is has been investigating "to find causes of the incident" and to "bring the perpetrators to justice."

An serviceman astatine Vang Vieng's Tourism Police bureau said nary charges person been filed but a "number of people" person been detained successful the case. Staff astatine the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which is inactive operating but not accepting caller guests, confirmed the manager and proprietor were among those taken successful for questioning.

Those poisoned successful the incidental are believed to person been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes utilized by disreputable bars arsenic a cheaper alternate to ethanol, but tin origin terrible poisoning oregon death. Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said unit were told by different guests that the women were unwell aft they failed to cheque retired arsenic planned connected November 13, and they arranged transport to a infirmary for them.

He said the women had joined much than 100 different guests for escaped shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel 2 days earlier. He said nary different impermanent reported immoderate issue, adding the alleged victims had past gone for a nighttime out, returning successful the aboriginal hours of the morning.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told his country's parliament that 19-year-old Bianca died aft being evacuated from Vang Vieng for attraction successful a Thai hospital. Thai authorities confirmed Ms Jones died due to the fact that of a "brain swelling owed to precocious levels of methanol recovered successful her system."

Landlocked Laos is 1 of south-east Asia's poorest nations and a fashionable tourer destination. Vang Vieng is peculiarly fashionable among backpackers seeking partying and escapade sports. Officials successful Laos person released astir nary details astir the case, with the authorities keeping a choky lid connected information. The state is simply a one-party communist authorities with nary organised opposition.