A woman has revealed that she was temporarily "blind" after drinking complimentary vodka shots at a popular hostel, just two days before six people died there.
The town of Vang Vieng, Laos, has been devastated by a series of suspected methanol poisoning deaths.
Six foreign nationals have tragically lost their lives from Methanol, which is usually added to mixed drinks as a cheaper alternative to alcohol but can cause severe poisoning or death.
The victims have been identified as Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, two Danish citizens, 19 and 20, and a 56-year-old American tourist.
About 11 foreign citizens remain in the hospital, according to The Guardian.
Several of the cases are linked to the Nana Backpackers hostel, with the owner and manager currently detained by authorities for questioning.
One unnamed British tourist has shared their frightening experience at the hostel, just days before the recent deaths.
The backpacker told the Herald Sun that they temporarily lost their vision after consuming vodka from the hostel on November 9th. She also revealed encountering some of the six individuals who tragically lost their lives in the town.
"I just thought I was hungover, I spent the day going between my room and the toilet, just vomiting," she said. "I had my eyes closed when I was walking to the toilet because I couldn’t see. I called my boyfriend and he said 'please get some help, go to the hospital.'"
The woman explained that she drank the free vodka shots around 3PM before participating in a river tubing activity with friends. However, she has no memory of the tubing experience.
She described her symptoms, stating she has a resting heart rate of 170bpm, breathlessness, temporary blindness, and vomiting. After seeking medical treatment at Vang Vieng District Hospital, she was administered a saline drip and discharged with medication for nausea.
Furthermore, the tourist added that three people out of her group of 15 were also ill.
According to The Independent, the manager of the hostel, Duong Duc Toan, claimed that he purchased the alcohol from a certified distributor and denied any involvement in its contamination.
He alleged that the shots were offered to approximately 100 guests as a gesture of hospitality and that no other complaints had been received by the hostel. To further emphasize his point, Toan even drank from one of the vodka bottles used that night to demonstrate its safety.
As Lao authorities continue investigating the cases, experts say the clinical signs point to methanol poisoning.
“The minute you have people drinking and getting sick in a high number and the symptoms start after a certain time, that is methanol until proven otherwise,” Norwegian professor Knut Erik Hovda said. He revealed that samples were sent to Thailand and verified.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.
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