Australian Teenager Dies Of Oplosan Alcohol In Laos, His Friend Is Fierce

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - An Australian teenager died on Thursday after drinking Methanol-contaminated alcohol in Laos.

Bianca Jones (19) fell ill last week in Vang Vieng, a city in Southeast Asia that is popular among foreign backpackers and is about two hours north of the capital Vientiane by road.

He died on Thursday after being taken to a hospital in neighboring Thailand on November 13, police said in the city of Udon Thani.

The doctor who examined him said the cause of death was methanol poisoning, from fake liquor, Phattanawong Chanphon, a police official in the Thai city, told Reuters.

The number of methanol in his body is high, causing brain swelling.

Australian media said Jones was the fourth foreign tourist to die after consuming contaminated alcohol, after two Danish nationals and an American.

"This is the worst fear every parent and nightmare that no one has to bear," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament.

"All Australians express our deepest sympathy to them at this time of heartbreak," he continued.

Jones' friend, Holly Bowles, also 19 years old, is in critical condition in hospital.

Fake liquor is a problem in Laos, and the Australian and British governments warn their citizens to be careful when picking up drinks there.