Brit backpacker dies from 'poison' alcohol

Lawyer took free shots on Far East trip

- ANDY LINES and ANTONY CLEMENTS

A YOUNG British lawyer has tragically died after being served drinks laced with methanol in the South-East Asian nation of Laos.

Simone White, 28, fell ill after taking one of the free "Laos Tiger" drinks on offer and died in hospital.

She is the fifth fatality, all of whom drank shots in a bar in the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng.

Two Danish tourists, an American man and an Australian teenager have also died in the shocking incident.

Earlier, Simone's travel companion Bethany Clarke warned of the dangers of accepting the free shots after she too became seriously ill.

She said: "Please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it.

FAINTED