Woman's alarming symptoms before she died alongside her fiancé after drinking limoncello

A woman experienced alarming symptoms before she tragically died alongside her fiancé after drinking limoncello on Christmas Eve.

Greta Marie Otteson and Arno Els Quinton died after drinking methanol-laced limoncello. Credit: Quangnam Provincial Police

As previously reported, Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Arno Els Quinton, 36, were both found dead on December 26, 2024, at Vietnam's Hoi An Silverbell Villa.

The couple, who had recently announced their engagement in a YouTube video, moved to the South East Asian country last February.

Just two days before their tragic deaths, the couple ordered two bottles of "homemade" limoncello from another restaurant, per Manchester Evening News.

As Christmas Day rolled around, Greta began experiencing alarming symptoms.

She sent her parents a tragic final text message via WhatsApp on Christmas Eve, complaining of what she described as the “worst hangover ever," and seeing “black spots” in her vision.

Though the symptoms were concerning, the couple declined an offer from a worried friend to take them to the hospital and decided to "sleep it off".

The next morning, the woman - who was a social media manager from Wales - was found lifeless in her bed, while Arno - a musician and live streamer from South Africa - was discovered dead in a nearby room.

Vietnamese investigators suspect the couple died from methanol, a highly toxic industrial chemical, with forensics linking the contamination to the limoncello.

“Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source,” a source told The Times. A Quang Nam Provincial Police spokesperson said "there were no signs of ransacking at the scene," and added: "The victims' belongings and phones were untouched."

The couple died after drinking methanol-laced limoncello. Credit: Kajakiki / Getty

Methanol is sometimes illegally added to homemade alcohol to increase potency. Unlike ethanol - the alcohol typically found in beverages - methanol is odorless, tasteless, and can be deadly even in small amounts. As little as 25ml can be lethal.

According to Mount Sinai, consumption of methanol can cause blurred or partial vision loss, confusion, breathing difficulties, severe headaches, and dizziness - which may explain the 'black spots' Greta was experiencing before her death.

Methanol poisoning can also mimic alcohol intoxication, making it difficult to spot, per Travel Aware. The outlet advises: “If you’re feeling very drunk, out of proportion to how much you’ve had to drink, get help ASAP.”

Greta’s parents, Susan and Paul, released a heartfelt tribute to their daughter, describing her as “beautiful” and remembering the couple as seasoned travelers who had built a happy life in Vietnam.

“Both Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travelers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy with their life in Vietnam, planning for the future,” the family shared, per PEOPLE.

Greta's devastated dad said the family wants justice for the pair. “Our aim is to bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice,” Paul said. “At some time in the future, we will have a memorial service for them both.

"Arno’s family expressed a wish that they should be together, which we wholeheartedly agree [with]," he added.

Featured image credit: Quangnam Provincial Police