‘No one should have to suffer like Simone': Survivor of Laos methanol tragedy calls for sweeping safety measures in airports
Bethany Clarke, who had been travelling through Southeast Asia in late 2024, was among a group of international backpackers who unknowingly consumed methanol-laced alcohol at a hostel bar in the Laos tourist hotspot of Vang Vieng.
Tragically, her best friend and travel companion, Simone White, was one of six people who died as a result of the poisoning.
'In November 2024, my childhood best friend Simone White, tragically and unexpectedly passed away in Laos. After we unknowingly consumed drinks laced with methanol in our hostel bar, Simone suffered irreversible brain damage,' Ms Clarke said.
Ms White's mother was forced to make the devastating decision to switch off her daughter's life support following the incident.
The poisoning, which took place at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, left a string of victims in its wake.
Among the deceased were Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, as well as other holidaymakers from around the world including Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and James Louis Hutson, 57.
Others suffered severe consequences, with some losing their sight and many left traumatised by the events.
Following an investigation by Laotian authorities, 11 staff members, including the hostel's manager, were arrested in connection with the incident.
The hostel, though now closed and under renovation, recently appeared on travel sites under a different name - 'Vang Vieng Central Backpaper Hostel' - but with the same address.
TripAdvisor told the BBC it had received a request to change the venue's name but said no proof of a change in ownership had been provided, meaning historical reviews would remain publicly visible.
Ms Clarke, determined to prevent future deaths, is lobbying for stricter awareness measures in international airports, including high-visibility signs, leaflets, and staffed guidance points warning travellers of methanol dangers in certain regions.
'Methanol poisoning is a growing yet preventable problem in many countries, particularly in regions where alcohol is unregulated,' she said.
'Methanol can be present in high concentrations within counterfeit alcohol and can result in severe health issues, including seizures, blindness and even death.
'Travellers, who are often unaware of these dangers, are putting themselves at risk when drinking cocktails and other alcoholic drinks overseas.'
'These measures can greatly reduce the risk and offer a safer travelling experience for all. No one should have to go through the pain and loss we've experienced losing Simone.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese defends Labor's action against anti-Semitism after Melbourne synagogue fire
Anthony Albanese has defended Labor's track record of working and responding to anti-Semitic attacks on the Jewish community, amid attacks from the opposition that there have been too many 'talkfests' and not enough 'action'. While quizzed by journalists in Hobart on Tuesday, the Prime Minister snapped back at a reporter who said Jewish community leaders had claimed the government's response was 'insufficient'. The questions were in response to an alleged arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue on Friday night, 'Who is saying that?' asked in response, and said he had spoken to community leaders on Saturday. 'Every time there has been a request, it has been met, expeditiously,' he said. 'On Saturday, one of the reasons why this gentleman has been caught so quickly is because the CCTV that was in place there was as a direct result of Commonwealth Government funding.' Mr Albanese also rejected calls for him to convene national cabinet in response to Friday's alleged arson attack. 'Every time an issue comes up, people say, let's have a national cabinet. Let's be clear. What people want is not a meeting. They want action,' Mr Albanese said. Mr Albanese's comments comes after Executive Council of the Australian Jewry president Alex Ryvchin urged the government to adopt its 15-point plan to 'defeat anti-Semitism' in Australia. The plan includes calls for anti-Semitism education in the national curriculum and urges Labor to declare a National Emergency and establish a Joint Counter-Terrorism Taskforce to 'fight against anti-Semitic terror before we have a major terror attack in this country'. Speaking later on Tuesday following a visit to the East Melbourne Synagogue, Sussan Ley maintained the Albanese government was not doing enough to protect Jewish-Australians. 'What I hear from the community is there have been many task forces, there have been many talkfests, many conversations and many words. What they are really calling for is action,' she said, alongside shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser and finance spokesperson James Paterson. Ms Ley also called for stronger state hate speech laws, which would prohibit people from chanting phrases like 'death to Israel,' and said calls for a national cabinet meeting to tackle anti-Semitism were a 'good suggestion'. 'There shouldn't be an ability for people to chant the words 'death' and I won't complete the phase, on the streets of Melbourne, and it just be accepted,' she said. 'It is not a protest, it is hate – pure hate and we need to have laws and levers and I would respectfully ask the Premier of Victoria to consider how she might instruct law enforcement in a way that allows a stronger intervention.'
Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘No one should have to suffer like Simone': Survivor of Laos methanol tragedy calls for sweeping safety measures in airports
A British woman who narrowly survived a lethal methanol poisoning incident in Laos last year has spoken publicly for the first time, calling on authorities around the globe to roll out airport safety campaigns to prevent similar tragedies. Bethany Clarke, who had been travelling through Southeast Asia in late 2024, was among a group of international backpackers who unknowingly consumed methanol-laced alcohol at a hostel bar in the Laos tourist hotspot of Vang Vieng. Tragically, her best friend and travel companion, Simone White, was one of six people who died as a result of the poisoning. 'In November 2024, my childhood best friend Simone White, tragically and unexpectedly passed away in Laos. After we unknowingly consumed drinks laced with methanol in our hostel bar, Simone suffered irreversible brain damage,' Ms Clarke said. Ms White's mother was forced to make the devastating decision to switch off her daughter's life support following the incident. The poisoning, which took place at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, left a string of victims in its wake. Among the deceased were Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, as well as other holidaymakers from around the world including Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and James Louis Hutson, 57. Others suffered severe consequences, with some losing their sight and many left traumatised by the events. Following an investigation by Laotian authorities, 11 staff members, including the hostel's manager, were arrested in connection with the incident. The hostel, though now closed and under renovation, recently appeared on travel sites under a different name - 'Vang Vieng Central Backpaper Hostel' - but with the same address. TripAdvisor told the BBC it had received a request to change the venue's name but said no proof of a change in ownership had been provided, meaning historical reviews would remain publicly visible. Ms Clarke, determined to prevent future deaths, is lobbying for stricter awareness measures in international airports, including high-visibility signs, leaflets, and staffed guidance points warning travellers of methanol dangers in certain regions. 'Methanol poisoning is a growing yet preventable problem in many countries, particularly in regions where alcohol is unregulated,' she said. 'Methanol can be present in high concentrations within counterfeit alcohol and can result in severe health issues, including seizures, blindness and even death. 'Travellers, who are often unaware of these dangers, are putting themselves at risk when drinking cocktails and other alcoholic drinks overseas.' 'These measures can greatly reduce the risk and offer a safer travelling experience for all. No one should have to go through the pain and loss we've experienced losing Simone.'
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Aus marks 20 years since deadly bombings
Australia has marked the 20th anniversary of the horrific 7/7 bombings in London, in which one Australian was killed and eight others injured. On July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers targeted the UK capital's transport network. Three of the bombers detonated at three stations in the London Underground, while the fourth detonated on a bus. They killed 52 and left more than 770 injured. It has been 20 years since four suicide bombers targeted London's transport network. Metropolitan Police / WPA Pool / AFP Credit: News Limited Fifty-two people were killed and more than 770 injured. AFP Credit: News Limited Australian man Sam Ly was on the bus that was attacked. He was pulled from the wreckage but his injuries were too severe and he died a week later. Australian officials laid flowers at the 7 July Memorial Gardens to mark the tragic anniversary. Australian High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Francis Smith joined other officials in laying wreaths at the 7 July Memorial Gardens. Australian High Commission / NewsWire Credit: Supplied Australian man Sam Ly was killed in the bombings. Australian High Commission / NewsWire Credit: Supplied '20 years ago today, London experienced unimaginable horror,' the High Commission posted on social media. 'The 7 July 2005 London transport bombings killed 52 people and injured more than 700 others. 'Australians were not spared from the terror that morning.'
