Frightened travelers have tried to warn others about methanol allegedly being served in drinks at a hostel that police are investigating after six people died.
Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19-year-olds from Bayside in Melbourne, and four other foreign tourists were killed. Falling ill in Vang Vieng, a popular tourist city in Laos2 weeks ago.
They were all staying at the Nana Backpackers Hotel, and eight of its employees have now been arrested by the police.
Travelers have since appeared to have attempted to warn others at the now-deleted location. Google review, alphabet exposed.
One traveler said, ‘Don’t go here!! ‘They had methanol in their drinks and it put me and three other people in hospital.’
Another person claimed to have fallen ill after staying there for five days. alcohol.
‘Me and my friends got sick from drinking free vodka here,’ they wrote.
‘People we know have been taken to hospital, some in intensive care with serious problems.
Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) has died after suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos.
Eight staff at Nana Backpacker Hostel, where Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles (above) died after drinking contaminated drinks, were arrested on Monday.
Photo: A now-deleted Google review warns other travelers about the hostel.
‘Everyone in the hospital had traces of very dangerous methanol in their bloodstream.’
Another reviewer said he had ‘heard several stories of people being locked in intensive care or even dying’ after drinking drinks served in the hostel bar.
In response, Nane Backpacker Hostel branded the claims ‘slanderous’.
‘Our hostel has been operating for five years and during this time we have always put the safety and wellbeing of our guests as our top priority. ‘We take all claims like this very seriously,’ the hostel account responded.
The review has since been removed from Google.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the search engine giant for comment.
Although the hostel was closed and eight staff members were arrested, no charges were filed.
An Australian traveler said the hostel was still providing shots to guests after three guests died.
Initial tests have shown the presence of methanol in beer and spirits served at Nana Backpackers Hostel (pictured). Eight employees were subsequently arrested.
Harry Oough, 19, said he had no idea there was a suspected mass poisoning when he checked in on November 15.
American citizen James Lewis Hutson, 56, was found dead on the floor of his hostel room on November 13. On the same day, two Danish women, Bowles and Jones, were admitted to the hospital.
‘We drank a lot. Everyone said that. ‘We drank a lot the first night and there were rumors going around all night that some of the girls had been spiked,’ Mr Ough told the ABC.
The Australian backpacker claimed that although there was a heavy police presence the next morning, hostel staff seemed unfazed and one of the staff members lit a joint on fire.
Unbelievably, the hostel was offering free shots that evening.
‘They had free drinks again and by the second night no one had touched a drink,’ Ough added.
‘So by that point everyone knew what was going on here and we didn’t party too hard the second night. ‘Because there were all the police around and we couldn’t be sure.’
Previously revealed by Daily Mail Australia How a friend of Danish victims Anne-Sophie Orkhild Kojmann, 20, and Freja Venerwald Sorensen, 21, warned them to ‘be careful’ before their deaths.
‘The first thing I told them was that Vang Vieng is beautiful, but to be very careful about everything because there are drugs everywhere,’ the friend said.
‘We kept in touch until the last day, and he said it was fun and really enjoyable.
The girls’ fathers, Sean Bowles (left) and Mark Jones (right), at Melbourne Airport after bringing their girls’ bodies home.
Chilling warning from new friend to two Danish women before holiday in Laos – as tourists speak out about grim fallout
A third, unidentified Australian is recovering in hospital after drinking suspected methanol, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Their condition is said to be stable and they are receiving support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The Australian Federal Police, along with the Prime Minister, have offered to assist in the Laos investigation. Anthony Albanese The government has made clear to civil servants that it expects a thorough and transparent investigation from parliament.
The bodies of best friends Mr Jones and Mr Bowles were brought home to Melbourne on Tuesday night.
Two friends from Beaumaris melbourneTo the southeast of , the suburb was decorated with blue and yellow ribbons, the colors of the teen soccer team.
The pair fell ill while on holiday in Laos and failed to check out of Nana Backpackers Hostel on November 13 after spending the night at nearby Jaidee Bar.
They evacuated to Thailand He died in a separate Bangkok hospital after his parents rushed to be at his bedside.
The bodies of close friends Mr Jones and Mr Bowles (pictured together) were flown home to Melbourne on Tuesday night.
DFAT said in a statement that Australian representatives were supporting local authorities and had provided consular assistance to the families of the two teenagers.
‘Australian officials in Laos and Thailand are working closely with local authorities. ‘The investigation is ongoing and we are providing all the assistance we can.’
After her body was laid to rest in Melbourne, Ms Jones’ father Mark said his family would try to put their lives back together after the tragedy.
‘We want to grieve,’ he told reporters at Tullamarine Airport. ‘I miss my daughters very much,’ he said.
But he said more needed to be done to ensure those responsible for suspected beer and spirits contamination were held to account.
“I was pleased to hear that something was happening in Laos and I will continue to urge our government to pursue those responsible,” Mr Jones said.
‘We can’t let our girls pass and this keeps happening.’
A fundraiser for the family had raised $330,000 as of Wednesday morning, allowing loved ones to expand their efforts to raise awareness of methanol poisoning.
The three goals are to ease the financial burden on families, support methanol poisoning education measures, and fund awareness campaigns.
The grieving family is currently trying to raise $500,000.
“Your contributions, kind words and willingness to share their stories have inspired us beyond measure,” the Jones and Bowles families said in a statement. GoFundMe Tuesday page.
‘Every dollar raised will make a lasting impact and help their stories save lives. We are very grateful for your support and hope you will continue to join us as we work towards this larger goal.’
