Second Australian teen dies after suspected Laos poisoning

A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said on Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.

Holly Bowles, 19, had been in critical condition on life support following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago.

Holly Bowles died in a hospital in neighbouring Thailand, where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, the Australian foreign ministry said. Her friend died on Thursday in a another Thai hospital.

"It is with broken hearts, and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace," her father, Shaun Bowles, told Australia's Nine News.

"We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace," her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10 and other Australian media. "We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people."

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia would continue efforts with Lao authorities to investigate what she described as a tragedy.
"I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts," Wong said.

Altogether, six tourists — two Danes, two Australians, a Briton and an American — have died after visiting Vang Vieng, an idyllic town in the Southeast Asian nation that is popular with foreign backpackers.

Lao state-run news agency KPL said on Friday that authorities were gathering evidence and witness accounts following the foreigners' deaths due to suspected "consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages". An official statement was expected soon.

Counterfeits of well-known alcohol brands and home-made spirits are a problem in Laos. Australia and Britain have warned their citizens to be cautious when consuming drinks there.

The US embassy in Laos issued a warning on Friday for its citizens to be on the alert for risks of methanol poisoning in consuming spirit-based drinks, advising them to buy from licensed vendors and check for signs of tampering or counterfeiting.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Agencies