Melbourne teenagers in hospital after drinking suspected tainted cocktails in Laos

In brief:Two Australian ladies, each believed to be 19, are reportedly combating for his or her lives in Thai hospitals after ingesting what are suspected to have been tainted cocktails in Laos.

They had been staying at a backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, a preferred social gathering city north of the capital Vientiane, however the proprietor says the institution didn’t serve them spiked drinks.

A spokesman for the Division of International Affairs and Commerce mentioned the federal government was offering consular help to 2 Australians and their households in Thailand.

Two teenage ladies from Melbourne are reportedly combating for his or her lives in Thai hospitals after ingesting tainted cocktails in Laos.

The younger ladies, each believed to be 19, had been staying at a backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, a preferred social gathering city north of the capital Vientiane.

In accordance with the proprietor of the Nana Hostel, they’d been out ingesting at a close-by bar final Tuesday evening and, within the early hours of Wednesday morning, had been taken to hospital after falling ailing.

A physician from Vang Vieng hospital informed the ABC the ladies arrived at about 2:30am, native time, on November 13.

“After they arrived, they seemed drunk, drained and had been respiration closely however they nonetheless may talk and transfer round,” he mentioned.

He added one of many ladies felt dizzy, tight within the chest and was having bother respiration.

“The physician gave her IV fluid. She later had a seizure after which went right into a coma. The physician intubated her they usually had been each despatched to Setthatirat hospital in Vientiane.”

It’s believed they had been then transferred to 2 separate hospitals in Thailand — one in Bangkok and the opposite in Udon Thani, within the nation’s north-east.

A spokesman for the Division of International Affairs and Commerce mentioned the federal government was offering consular help to 2 Australians and their households in Thailand.

“Our ideas are with them at this deeply distressing time,” he mentioned.

“Owing to our privateness obligations we’re unable to offer additional remark.”

It’s understood no less than two individuals have died and no less than 10 have fallen ailing after ingesting the contaminated alcohol.

Different travellers have posted warnings on social media about doable methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng.

“Pressing — please keep away from all native spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free pictures provided by one of many bars. Simply keep away from them as so not value it. 6 of us who drank from the identical place are in hospital at the moment with methanol poisoning,” one consumer posted.

Others steered the women had consumed the suspect drinks on the hostel they had been staying at however the proprietor, Duong van Huan, denied this.

“Lots of people are writing it occurred in our hostel however no,” he informed the ABC.

“This has by no means occurred on the hostel. My enterprise takes care of everybody. We by no means do something incorrect.

“I’m undecided what occurred however on the hostel we solely promote drinks, whiskey, cocktails and police have already checked all the things.

“The entire alcohol we’ve got is secure. In eight years, this has by no means occurred.”

The ABC has been unable to substantiate with police in Laos whether or not they’re investigating the incident.

The tragedy comes months after six individuals died in Bangkok and an additional 31 had been hospitalised after ingesting an area liquor spiked with methanol.

Methanol is a transparent liquid chemical that’s usually intentionally and illegally added to alcoholic drinks as a less expensive various to ethanol. Consuming even a small quantity might be deadly.

https://www.abc.internet.au/information/2024-11-18/melbourne-teens-in-thailand-hospital-after-suspected-poisoning/104616634