Who was Bianca Jones? Aussie backpacker poisoned in Laos with methanol-laced alcohol

AUSTRALIAN teen Bianca Jones died pursuing a suspected methanol poisoning incidental successful Laos.

A hostel proprietor has been detained aft the 19-year-old and a radical of radical drank tainted shots, causing superior unwellness and aggregate deaths.

Who was Bianca Jones?

Bianca Jones was a young pistillate from Melbourne who was travelling crossed Southeast Asia erstwhile she tragically died from suspected methanol poisoning.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, methanol is simply a toxic intoxicant that is utilized industrially arsenic a solvent, pesticide and substance source.

The heartbreaking incidental occurred successful Vang Vieng, Laos — a well-known halt connected the backpacker trail, featuring galore bars, restaurants and hostels catering to visitors.

Bianca tragically died connected Thursday, November 21, 2024.

What happened to Bianca Jones?

Bianca was 1 of six tourists who died owed to a suspected poisoning from contaminated beverages.

The drinks are understood to person contained methanol — the toxic substance is often recovered successful illicitly produced oregon counterfeit alcohol.

Simone's person Bethany Clarke raised the alarm with an urgent informing connected the Laos Backpacking Facebook group.

'Avoid each section spirits'

She wrote: "Urgent — delight debar each section spirits. Our radical stayed successful Vang Vieng and we drank escaped shots offered by 1 of the bars.

"Just debar them arsenic truthful not worthy it. Six of america who drank from the aforesaid spot are successful infirmary presently with methanol poisoning."

Bethany added that she was “very fatigued and past fainted, past conscionable felt nauseous and past my liver started to unopen down”.

She continued: “I got to the backstage infirmary successful clip but underwent galore infusions and tablets and days of recovery.”

Rushed to hospital

On November 13, aft falling sick successful Vang Vieng, Bianca was rushed to infirmary successful neighbouring Thailand.

A Thai constabulary authoritative told Reuters: "The doc who examined her said the origin of decease was a methanol poisoning, from fake liquor.

"The magnitude of methanol successful her assemblage was high, starring to swelling of the brain."

On November 22, Thai constabulary main Phattanawong Chanphon said of Bianca's death: "She was unconscious ever since she was picked up from Laos and ne'er regained consciousness from then, adjacent arsenic she had received aesculapian care.

"The origin of decease is apt from the depletion of methanol from fake liquor.

"It's poison and cannot beryllium consumed."

Those confirmed dead are Bianca, her adjacent person Holly Bowles, who was besides 19, 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, 2 unnamed Danish women successful their twenties and an American man.

Around 12 different people, including immoderate from the UK, are believed to person been near earnestly unwell.

Hostel proprietor detained

Thai constabulary person reportedly detained the proprietor of the hostel wherever the radical of tourists were staying earlier the suspected poisoning.

On November 22, an unnamed tourism bull successful Vang Vieng told AP that a fig of radical were being held arsenic portion of the investigation, but nary charges had been filed yet.

Staff astatine the hostel confirmed that the manager and proprietor were among those held by police.

The venue is inactive operating, but not accepting immoderate caller guests.