While a spate of backpacker deaths led to a crackdown on bars and a temporary tubing ban in 2012, the town, a 90-minute drive from the capital of Laos, Vientiane, has remained popular among tourists. Yesterday, a 19-year-old Australian, Holly Bowles, became the sixth person to die in an incident linked to the suspected consumption of drinks laced with methanol. News of her death came just hours after that of the British lawyer Simone White, 28. Bowles's best friend, Bianca Jones, 19, died on Thursday in hospital in Udon Thani, in Thailand near the northern border with Laos. Thai authorities confirmed that the Melbourne teenager had died from methanol poisoning.
Three other tourists - two Danish citizens aged 19 and 20, and an American - died in Laos after the incident. About 11 foreign citizens remain in hospital. Authorities in Laos yesterday detained the manager and owner of the Nana backpacker hostel in Vang Vieng, but by last night no one had been charged.
One backpacker who suffered a similar experience, but survived, is Claire*. Almost a year ago, the thirtysomething British traveler was gazing up at the sky, vodka and cola in hand. Her "tipsy tubing" trip had begun as planned. But after the first stop at a makeshift riverside bar in Vang Vieng, it went awry.
"I started to feel strange. Suddenly I was very weak and tired, and I was sliding in and out of consciousness," Claire says. Her friends witnessed her eyes rolling back, and Claire remembers them later describing the scenario as "terrifying".
She said: "I was mostly aware of everything but couldn't see - I knew I was being carried but couldn't physically do anything. I remember that I was trying to explain that something wasn't right - that I wasn't simply drunk."
Denne historien er fra November 23, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 23, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Police investigate more than 100 claims of rape and abuse by Fayed
Police believe Mohamed Al Fayed may have raped and abused more than 111 women over nearly four decades and that his youngest victim was just 13 years old.
I did not mean to make light of self-harm, says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has said he did not intend to \"make light of the very serious issue of self-harm\" when he answered a question relating to a cut he made on his nose during Manchester City's 3-3 draw with Feyenoord.
Maeda saves point for Celtic after costly error by Carter-Vickers
There were spells in this game when Club Brugge resembled a reincarnation of 1970 Brazil. As Cameron Carter-Vickers bundled home an embarrassing own goal to send the Belgians in front, it looked a matter of how many they would choose to score.
Amorim: Rashford has to 'really want' to find form
Ruben Amorim believes Marcus Rashford has to \"really want it\" if the forward is to recapture his 30-goal Manchester United form of two seasons ago.
Mac Allister kickstarts Liverpool party to keep up perfect record
Arne Slot's Liverpool reboot has its latest dividend. His team continues to boast the only 100% record in the Champions League group stage and this was not just another victory, it was a swatting aside of the holders, a statement of intent.
Martínez reactions hold up Juve before Rogers denied at the last
Three minutes of second-half stoppage time had been and gone when Morgan Rogers thought he had snatched victory with surely the final kick.
FA investigates claims Coote discussed giving booking
The Football Association is investigating allegations that the referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card before a game.
To see the impact the club has, it's really extraordinary
As they gear up for a famous night at Old Trafford, this is how Bodø/Glimt became one of Europe's big success stories
Australia's mission: how to dismantle Bumrah's genius
India's supreme fast bowler destroyed top order in Perth and hosts have little time to avoid a second Test repeat
Van Nistelrooy set for Leicester as Coventry close in on Lampard
Ruud van Nistelrooy is poised to become the new Leicester manager, making an almost immediate return to the Premier League after leaving Manchester United.
