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

AUSTRALIAN teenager Bianca Jones died following a suspected methanol poisoning incident in Laos.

A hostel owner has been detained after the 19-year-old and a group of people drank tainted shots, causing serious illness and multiple deaths.

Who was Bianca Jones?

Bianca Jones was a young woman from Melbourne who was travelling across Southeast Asia when she tragically died from suspected methanol poisoning.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and fuel source.

The heartbreaking incident occurred in Vang Vieng, Laos — a well-known stop on the backpacker trail, featuring numerous bars, restaurants and hostels catering to visitors.

Bianca tragically died on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

What happened to Bianca Jones?

Bianca was one of six tourists who died due to a suspected poisoning from contaminated beverages.

The drinks are understood to have contained methanol — the toxic substance is often found in illicitly produced or counterfeit alcohol.

Simone's friend Bethany Clarke raised the alarm with an urgent warning on the Laos Backpacking Facebook group.

'Avoid all local spirits'

She wrote: "Urgent — please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.

"Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning."

Bethany added that she was “very fatigued and then fainted, then just felt nauseous and then my liver started to shut down”.

She continued: “I got to the private hospital in time but underwent many infusions and tablets and days of recovery.”

It's poison and cannot be consumed

Police Chief Phattanawong Chanphon

Rushed to hospital

On November 13, after falling ill in Vang Vieng, Bianca was rushed to hospital in neighbouring Thailand.

A Thai police official told Reuters: "The physician who examined her said the cause of death was a methanol poisoning, from fake liquor.

"The amount of methanol in her body was high, leading to swelling of the brain."

On November 22, Thai police chief Phattanawong Chanphon said of Bianca's death: "She was unconscious ever since she was picked up from Laos and never regained consciousness from then, even as she had received medical care.

"The cause of death is likely from the consumption of methanol from fake liquor.

"It's poison and cannot be consumed."

Those confirmed dead are Bianca, her close friend Holly Bowles, who was also 19, 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, two unnamed Danish women in their twenties and an American man.

Around 12 other people, including some from the UK, are believed to have been left seriously unwell.

Hostel owner detained

Thai police have reportedly detained the owner of the hostel where the group of tourists were staying before the suspected poisoning.

On November 22, an unnamed tourism cop in Vang Vieng told AP that a number of people were being held as part of the investigation, but no charges had been filed yet.

Staff at the hostel confirmed that the manager and owner were among those held by police.

The venue is still operating, but not accepting any new guests.