6 Dead in Laos after Methanol Poisoning

 

BY C STONE | STONE NEWS NETWORK

Six people are dead in Laos after drinking alcohol that was laced with Methanol. Laos authorities released some names today:

American James Louis Hutson, 57 

Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21

Holly Bowles, left, was confirmed to have died on Friday, a day after British lawyer Simone White and Australian Bianca Jones

One British national has also died from methanol poisoning.

The two young Danish women were found unconscious in their hostel bedroom on November 13, after going out to a bar in the city the night before, local media reported. They were sent to a hospital in the capital Vientiane, but died in the middle of the night. The medical team said the cause of death was sudden heart failure.

On the same day the two Danes were found, hostel staff noticed that American tourist Hutson had not come out of his room. When they went in to check on him they found him lying dead on the bed, with several empty drinks glasses nearby. There were no bruises or wounds on his body, local media reported. The Nana Backpackers Hotel came under examination because some of the victims had stayed there. 

The hostel manager has denied any wrongdoing. He claimed that over 100 guests were served alcohol with no issues. Methanol is so deadly, that only 25 milliliters is enough to be fatal. It is sometimes added to drinks because it's cheaper than alcohol.

Laos used to be an area known for tourists drowning during river floats. Guests would float on inflatables and get alcohol while cruising down the river. Many guests would drink too much, fall over board, and drown. Most of the guests would not be wearing any kind of life preserves.

Laos demolished most of the river-facing bars to combat this. It worked. However, it hasn't fully stopped bars from selling illegal drink concoctions.

Methanol poisoning isn't new. If you view this website, it outlines which countries have the highest percentages of deaths.