Latest news with #VangVieng
South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
British survivor of Laos methanol poisoning speaks out after watching friend die
British national Bethany Clarke still remembers that day in Vang Vieng, Laos – tubing down the river with friends, followed by a sunset happy hour at the Nana Backpackers Hostel. It had all the hallmarks of a classic backpacker afternoon. The vodka and whisky shots were free. The cost would come later. It was November 12, 2024. The next morning, Clarke and her two companions – childhood friend Simone White and a male friend – set out early for a kayaking trip they had planned the day before. But instead of excitement, Clarke felt unusually drained. 'I just felt sick and we were lying flat on our backs in the kayaks looking at the sky. My brain wasn't functioning. I didn't feel like it was a hangover, but I couldn't work out why. It didn't make sense,' Clarke told This Week in Asia. It was the beginning of a nightmare that would end in a hospital bed in Vientiane, with Clarke watching her best friend die from methanol poisoning – a preventable tragedy that, experts say, continues to result from periodic outbreaks of contaminated alcohol across Southeast Asia and claims hundreds of lives worldwide each year. Shots being served at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng on November 12, last year. Photo: Facebook/Bethany Clarke White, a 28-year-old lawyer from the UK , had also felt unwell that morning. Still groggy and confused, the group endured a torturous bus ride to the Laotian capital, first to visit a medical clinic before being referred to a larger hospital, as White's condition quickly deteriorated.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
Poisoning victim's dad vows to stop reopening of Laos hostel
The father of Holly Bowles, a young woman who died by suspected poisoning in a Laotian backpacker hostel in November 2024, has vowed to ensure the venue is never allowed to reopen. Shaun Bowles told 2GB's Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning it was 'unfathomable' to hear news of the hostel's plan to reopen under a new name. 'The potential of this happening to someone else is very real because obviously they haven't changed their ways,' Mr Bowles said. 'We're gonna put our heads together with some people and we're gonna do everything we can to make sure that place doesn't reopen because it's just not right,' he said. 'To have no justice and to find out that they're going to reopen the backpackers … it's just the worst news.' Nana Backpacker hostel became the centre of international attention in November 2024 after six backpackers, including two 19-year-old Australian women, died after a suspected methanol poisoning. Mr Bowles' daughter Holly and her friend Bianca Jones had been drinking at the venue, which plans to reopen later this year under the name 'Vang Vieng Central Backpackers Hostel'. One English backpacker who recovered from the suspected poisoning told the BBC it was 'unbelievable' to hear of the hostel's reopening. Bethany Clarke and her friend Simone White fell ill one day after drinking free vodka shots at Nana Backpackers, and while Bethany was able to recover, Simone would succumb to her illness several days later. 'I'm shocked. If it's the same management or ownership involved, I wouldn't trust them,' Ms Clarke said. 'It's just unbelievable because we know that was where we were poisoned.' Mr Bowles believes the Laotian government is not taking the deaths seriously. 'They tell us that it's sitting with the prosecutors but … we can't even get a meeting with the Laos ambassador to Australia in Canberra to ask some questions and to find out some answers,' he told Fordham. 'We remember (Holly) so fondly … someone needs to be held accountable,' he said. The hostel now appears on TripAdvisor under the newly proposed name, however bookings cannot be made through the site.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Anger as Laos hostel to reopen after deaths
The father of Holly Bowles, a young woman who died by suspected poisoning in a Laotian backpacker hostel in November 2024, has vowed to ensure the venue is never allowed to reopen. Shaun Bowles told 2GB's Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning it was 'unfathomable' to hear news of the hostel's plan to reopen under a new name. 'The potential of this happening to someone else is very real because obviously they haven't changed their ways,' Mr Bowles said. 'We're gonna put our heads together with some people and we're gonna do everything we can to make sure that place doesn't reopen because it's just not right,' he said. 'To have no justice and to find out that they're going to reopen the backpackers … it's just the worst news.' Nana Backpacker hostel became the centre of international attention in November 2024 after six backpackers, including two 19-year-old Australian women, died after a suspected methanol poisoning. Mr Bowles' daughter Holly and her friend Bianca Jones had been drinking at the venue, which plans to reopen later this year under the name 'Vang Vieng Central Backpackers Hostel'. One English backpacker who recovered from the suspected poisoning told the BBC it was 'unbelievable' to hear of the hostel's reopening. Bethany Clarke and her friend Simone White fell ill one day after drinking free vodka shots at Nana Backpackers, and while Bethany was able to recover, Simone would succumb to her illness several days later. 'I'm shocked. If it's the same management or ownership involved, I wouldn't trust them,' Ms Clarke said. 'It's just unbelievable because we know that was where we were poisoned.' Mr Bowles believes the Laotian government is not taking the deaths seriously. 'They tell us that it's sitting with the prosecutors but … we can't even get a meeting with the Laos ambassador to Australia in Canberra to ask some questions and to find out some answers,' he told Fordham. 'We remember (Holly) so fondly … someone needs to be held accountable,' he said. The hostel now appears on TripAdvisor under the newly proposed name, however bookings cannot be made through the site.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Outrage as backpackers hostel where Aussie teens died plans to reopen: 'They should be banned'
The survivor of a lethal suspected methanol poisoning at a Laos hostel, which killed two Melbourne teenage girls, has slammed plans for the venue to reopen. Best friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were staying at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng when they became sick after drinking at the bar in November. The 19-year-olds were among six tourists who died after suffering from suspected methanol poisoning. The Herald Sun published photos on Saturday that suggested the venue, which has been closed since the incident, was planning to reopen. The images, taken this week, showed new paintwork and repairs, including a green trim on the windows of the upper floors. There is a banner at the entrance which reads 'VangVieng Central Backpackers Hostel', implying there has been a change of name. British 28-year-old Bethany Clarke survived the alleged poisoning which killed her friend Simone White. She has shared her outrage that the hostel could reopen, saying: 'This site should be a memorial, I don't want to see anyone staying there.' Photos of the Nana Backpackers Hostel from this week suggest it has been rebranded, with new paintwork and a change of name 'Vang Vieng Central Backpackers Hostel' Advertisements for the newly-named hostel have appeared on the travel sites TripAdvisor and Agoda. Among the photos are images showing the same bar where the tragic incident occurred, and the pool can be seen in the gallery of one listing. 'It's completely unbelievable, they shouldn't be allowed to advertise on TripAdvisor and Agoda, they should be banned,' Ms Clarke said. 'When you go on to the site Vang Vieng Central Backpackers you can see the pool at Nanas, so it appears they are linked.' There are currently no available dates listed on the advertisements of either travel website. Asked about a potential reopening, a spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were working to avoid repeat incidents. 'The Australian Government will continue to do everything possible to assist Holly and Bianca's families, and to reduce the risks of a tragedy like this happening again,' the spokesperson said. 'Our officials remain engaged with Laos authorities to reinforce our expectations for a transparent and thorough investigation.' Adverts on travel websites have included photos of the hostel bar where the suspected methanol poisoning occurred, but with the new name for the venue One TripAdvisor gallery photo for Vang Vieng Central Backpackers Hostel clearly shows the pool of Nanas Backpackers The Laos Government said it would conduct an investigation into the cause of the Novemeber incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. Danish friends Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Sorensen, 21, and American James Hutson, 57, also died in the same incident. Eight men aged between 23 and 47 were taken into custody following arrests by police on November 25 as part of an investigation into the suspected poisonings. Among those arrested by Vang Vieng police were general staff and managers. There was no suggestion at the time that those detained were responsible for the tourists' deaths. A further five people, who were linked to the Tiger distillery, including the manufacturer of the drinks served, were also taken in for questioning. In February, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told federal parliament that authorities in Laos declined the offer of assistance from Australian Federal Police in its investigation of the incident. He vowed that Australian authorities wouldn't drop the matter. 'I would want to assure the families of Bianca and Holly that we remain in contact with the Laos authorities and that the offer of assistance is being consistently offered,' he said. The teens' families said in a joint statement they were 'extremely disappointed' by the lack of updates. 'As the Laos government rejects any support from the AFP our confidence in accountability and justice for everyone affected remains unanswered,' it said.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- BBC News
Laos hostel linked to methanol deaths set to reopen
A backpackers' hostel linked to the deaths of six tourists is set to reopen under a new Clarke and her friend Simone White, who later died, fell ill after drinking free vodka shots in the town of Vang Vieng last suspected their drinks at the Nana Backpacker Hostel were laced with methanol - a deadly substance linked to bootleg Newsbeat has found evidence the hostel is due to reopen at the same address in August. Bethany believes the same management is still in charge. Bethany says she and Simone, from London, became unwell a day after being offered drinks at the Nana initially mistook symptoms for food poisoning but were eventually taken to recovered but Simone, 28, died several days later, as did five other tourists from Australia, Denmark and the US. 'Unbelievable' The owners of the Nana hostel denied serving illicit alcohol but it has remained closed since the a listing for Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel - taking bookings from 23 August this year - has appeared on travel websites Tripadvisor and Agoda.A link that previously took users to the Nana hostel's page redirects them to the amended showing the Nana Backpacker Hostel name painted on a sign and printed on menus remain on the page, as well as guest reviews naming the former confirmed to Newsbeat the hostel was reopening with a new concerned that the new business is being run by the same people it was before."I'm shocked. If it's the same management or ownership involved, I wouldn't trust them."It's just unbelievable because we know that was where we were poisoned."A Tripadvisor spokesperson said old photos and reviews could be deleted if it was informed of a change in ownership, although it's not a requirement. There is further evidence to suggest the Vang Vieng hostel and the Nana hostel are linked. Building work is currently being carried out at the address, according to travellers staying in the Frankie, who shared photos of the site with Newsbeat, says there was "building equipment everywhere" when she walked past on Tuesday."They're clearly refurbishing it," she says. In one photo, showing a sign reading Vang Vieng Central Backpacker Hostel, a phone number is same number appears in messages, seen by Newsbeat, sent between Bethany and staff at the Nana hostel. When a reporter called the number, the person who answered hung calls and messages, including those from BBC colleagues based in the region, were blocked. Frankie, 23, says it's "horrendous" to think the business could "carry on like normal". "[Vang Vieng] is kind of empty in terms of backpackers. People are drinking, but it feels a bit eerie and quiet."Frankie says people she's met on her travels are well aware of the methanol poisonings last year. "A lot of the backpackers we've met have mentioned the name of Nana hostel. There's definitely an awareness about it,' she adds the name change makes her "very uneasy" and she'll tell her friends about it when they travel to the country. Bethany, who previously called for more education on the dangers of drinking abroad, says she wants to warn others."I was not completely convinced we would end up getting justice for Simone and the other victims, so I thought the best thing I can do is to try and educate the younger generation."And while she waits to find out whether anyone will face action over Simone's death, what little hope she had for answers is starting to fade. In November, authorities in Laos promised an investigation into the deaths of Simone and Australians Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, both from Denmark, and US national James Louis Hutson, workers, including the manager of the Nana hostel, were detained for questioning by police. The manager denied any responsibility, saying hundreds of guests had been given shots without becoming shared a recent email sent by the UK Foreign Office stating that authorities in Laos had proposed charges against 13 people over food safety has seen an email from the Australian government with the same update and has approached its foreign office for comment. A Foreign Office spokesperson declined to comment on the email but confirmed the UK government was in contact with authorities in Laos and supporting the family of a British woman who died in the country. Newsbeat has contacted Agoda for comment. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
