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."
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Money hacks How to save on winter sports holidays
When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, going to Europe will always be cheaper than flying to somewhere such as the US or Canada - but costs vary massively on the continent.
Scam refund claims
Some victims of bank transfer scams will not get a penny back despite beefed-up rules designed to better protect consumers from fraudsters because several big banks have introduced an excess on refund claims.
Packaged accounts Are the perks worth the money?
For a monthly fee, banks offer everyday banking with all kinds of enticing extras. Laura Whateley examines how the 'freebies' stack up
Spain floods force firms to look south for oranges
Some British retailers and wholesalers have been forced to switch to sourcing oranges from South Africa and South America earlier than usual after last month's floods in eastern Spain left farmers struggling to harvest and ship their crops.
Northvolt boss resigns after EV battery firm files for bankruptcy
The chief executive of Northvolt has resigned after the Swedish battery startup filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.
Electric dream sours Carmakers fight strict EV rules as fines loom
When Ford announced this week that it was cutting 800 jobs in the UK, the US carmaker had stern words for the government.
Irish tycoon bids to buy out Yorkshire Post owner
National World, the owner of the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post - and underbidder in the auction for the Telegraph - has received a buyout proposal from largest shareholder.
Bitcoin rises after US SEC chair says he will step down
Cryptocurrencies rose sharply immediately after one of the industry's biggest critics, Gary Gensler, said he would stand down as the head of the US financial regulator when president-elect Donald Trump was inaugurated in January.
Feeling the strain Rising bills and Trump policies to add to pressure on households
Labour swept to power in the wake of a punishing cost of living crisis that hit households hard, with the price of food and energy rocketing, alongside the impact on mortgage rates of Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget.
Budget blamed for end to 12 months of expansion as optimism slumps
Labour's first budget in 14 years has been given the \"thumbs down\" by private sector businesses, with Rachel Reeves's measures blamed for the end to a 12-month run of expansion and a fall in retail sales.
