By Holly Hales and Callum Godde
The family of Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles has confirmed her death from suspected methanol poisoning during a holiday in Laos.
The 19-year-old passed away with her parents by her bedside in a Bangkok hospital on Friday, one day after her best mate Bianca Jones, also 19, died in another hospital in the Thailand capital with her family close by.
“It is with broken hearts and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace,” her family said in a statement.
“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.
“Holly was living her best life travelling through South East Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.
“As her parents, we were always so incredibly proud of everything Holly did.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong offered her deepest sympathies to Ms Bowles’ family on behalf of the Australian people, in the wake of Ms Jones’ death on Thursday.
“I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in their hearts,” Senator Wong posted on social media.
The girls from Beaumaris in Melbourne’s southeast were on holiday in Laos last week when they became ill along with a dozen other tourists in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Both were heavily involved in the Beaumaris Football Club which was holding a “private get together” for players and coaches on Friday night.
“It’s been an incredibly tough week for the club and tonight’s event is about supporting each other through this tough time,” a spokesman said.
“Particularly those girls who played with Bianca and Holly, all of whom are now playing Senior footy.”
The club issued a tribute after Ms Jones’ death, encouraging members to support one another.
“By their deeds and involvement in the girls and women’s football programs, both Holly and Bianca have become cherished and highly respected members of the Beaumaris Sharks family,” the club said in a statement.
“Now more than ever, the wider Sharks Community needs to lean on each other for both comfort and support.”
On November 11, Ms Jones and Ms Bowles planned to stay at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng and have a few drinks but decided to go to Jaidee Bar.
Ms Jones and Ms Bowles didn’t leave their dorm room for 24 hours afterwards and reported feeling unwell on November 13, before being taken to separate hospitals in Bangkok.
The suspected methanol poisoning event in Vang Vieng has been linked to six deaths so far, including the two Australians, a British woman, an American and two Danish tourists.
It’s believed all of the affected tourists, consumed drinks laced with methanol.
Thai authorities have already confirmed Ms Jones had died of “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.
Meanwhile, Laotian police have detained the manager and owner of the hostel where the Australians were staying.
An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press on Friday a “number of people” had been detained in the case but that no charges had yet been filed.
The Australian government has updated its travel advice for Laos, telling residents to be alert to the potential risk of spirit-based drinks including cocktails.
Senator Wong said drink-spiking and methanol poisoning were “far too common in many parts of the world”.
“At this time I would say to parents, to young people, please have a conversation about risks, please inform yourselves, please let’s work together to ensure this tragedy does not happen again,” she said.
One New Zealand citizen has also fallen ill in Laos and could also be a victim of methanol poisoning.
–With AP
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