Laos drink poisoning victim's plea
In November 2024 six people died after drinking alcohol suspected to be contaminated with methanol. Two of those were 19-year old Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles.
Bethany Clarke from the UK was one of the lucky survivors of the poisoning however her childhood best friend Simone White – who Ms Clarke was travelling with at the time – was not so fortunate. Now she's speaking out on the issue in an attempt to raise awareness.
'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,' she said. Bethany Clarke who lost her best friend Simone White to methanol poisoning while on holiday together in Laos is calling for more education on the dangers of bootleg alcohol. Picture Lachie Millard Credit: News Corp Australia
'Simone's mother then had to make the heart-wrenching decision to turn off her life support. Five other travellers including Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, James Louis Hutson, 57, Bianca Jones, 19 and Holly Bowles, 19 died after drinking the same drinks provided by the hostel and other travellers have become blind and many others have been left traumatised by their experiences.'
The poisoning occurred at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng Laos, an investigation by the Laotian government resulted in the subsequent arrest of 11 staff members including its manager.
'Methanol poisoning is a growing yet preventable problem in many countries, particularly in regions where alcohol is unregulated,' Ms Clarke 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.'
'Airports are crucial points of information that can provide warnings for millions of international travellers. Despite the pressing need, there is a lack of visible warnings and educational materials about methanol poisoning in airports around the world.'
Ms Clarke is proposing airports display clearly visible signs, distribute leaflets and have mandatory guidance counters with information on methanol poisoning risk.
'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.'
The hostel has come under fire recently after a listing for 'Vang Vieng Central Backpaper Hostel' appeared on TripAdvisor and Agoda using the same address.
The venue has remained closed since the poisoning and is under construction at the moment however TripAdvisor told the BBC that it had received a request to change the name of the hostel on the platform.
A spokesman said it had not received proof of a change in ownership, so previous reviews would remain visible on the listing.
Ms Clarke's petition is live on Change.org and is available to sign here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'It must stop': Former prime minister Tony Abbott calls for stronger action to stamp out 'pro-Hamas' protests, antisemitic attacks
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has claimed stronger action is needed to crackdown on antisemitism in the wake of fresh attacks on the Jewish community. On Tuesday, Mr Abbott called for a blanket ban on 'pro-Hamas' protests from carrying on across Australia and urged police to take harder stance. After visiting the synagogue in east Melbourne which was the target of last week's attempted arson attack, Mr Abbott told Sky News host Peta Credlin Jewish Australians had been 'under relentless attack' since October 7, 2023. 'It must stop - and all we've had up till now is largely impotent hand wringing from people in authority,' Mr Abbott said. 'Just as the police cracked down hard on the freedom protests during the pandemic, there's nothing to stop them cracking down hard these pro-Hamas, Jew-hatred protests. They've been going on for far too long. 'We can't tolerate it. They must be stopped. They must never be allowed to happen again and if the police object, the Premier should just say: 'I'm sorry, this is an instruction from the elected and accountable government to officialdom, go and carry it out'.' Mr Abbott said it was not a question of freedom of speech and the right to protest, as demonstrators had gone after and blatantly intimidated 'decent, law-abiding Australians'. Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina echoed those sentiments, telling Sky News the police force had become muzzled and 'over risk-averse'. Mr Bezzina said police were 'sitting in buses around the corner' during protests in Melbourne last week. The former detective added police should be able to 'react on the spot' if a splinter group of 20 agitators descend on a restaurant, as they did during that protest. There were a series of problems arising from lack of action until after the incident, he said, claiming it was a 'bad look' and could lead to an unnecessary mental or physical injury. Mr Bezzina said Victoria's lack of protest permit laws was partly the problem, as there was no accountability, and suggested splinter groups be traced back to the main demonstration which is held responsible for intimidation and disruptive activity. 'Now when you apply for another permit you're not going to get it because you're not controlling your own people, it's not for us. So ultimately there is no accountability , they run riot,' he said. ' My particular question is, what have you achieved? Apart from inconveniencing the community, the good people of this state, what have you achieve globally, internally?' Author Ayaan Hirsi Ali said the increasing trend of antisemitic incidents in Australia was more than just criminal activity. 'We're looking at political violence. We need to know where the mother bee of this is,' she said. Ms Ali said the problem began with educational institutions and universities, which were 'not providing education anymore'. 'We're not teaching the disciplines of math and science and history and civics and Western civilisation and humanities and classics. Now we have something called 'studies',' she said. 'These are all grievance studies. You get a degree in resentment.'
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Confronting': NT cops reply to racist finding
WARNING: This story contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died. The Northern Territory Police Force has acknowledged racism existed within the organisation a day after the Coroner handed down a scathing 600-page report into the death of a 19-year old Aboriginal teen. Kumanjayi Walker was shot dead by former constable Zachary Rolfe after he was stabbed on November 9, 2019. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage spent three years investigating Kumanjayi's life and the events surrounding his death finding the 'racist attitudes' of a constable attracted to 'high-adrenaline policing' contributed to his death. She also found the NT Police Force was entrenched with institutional racism. Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage handed down a scathing 600-page report into the death of 19-year old Aboriginal teen Kumanjayi Walker finding racism existed within the NT Police Force. Glen Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia Acting commissioner Martin Dole acknowledged the coroner's findings accepting all forms of racism existed within the NT Police Force at various times. 'This was borne out in the evidence received during this inquest that is confronting, but it is a truth that we must face, what was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable,' he said. 'We are committed to stamping out racism in all its forms and making this a safer and fairer organisation for everybody.' Commissioner Dole said they would carefully consider 18 recommendations directed to the NT Police Force by the coroner. 'We acknowledge the deep hurt that followed the events of the 9th November 2019 and the long inquest that followed,' he said. 'I extend my sincere sympathy to Kumanjayi's loved ones, and thank every witness and community member who contributed to the coroner's findings. 'These recommendations deserve to be considered properly, thoroughly and with the seriousness that they warrant. 'Our response will take time, because it must be meaningful and enduring.' Acting commissioner Martin Dole acknowledged the coroner's findings accepting racism existed within the NT Police Force at various time and was a confronting truth they must face. Gera Kazakov Credit: News Corp Australia The commissioner said the NT Police force must listen, hear and act more closely with remote communities. 'That includes seriously re-examining how we return to a meaningful version of community policing, one that reflects the needs and expectations of Aboriginal people and builds trust at a local level,' he said. 'Our commitment is clear, lasting reform delivered transparently in partnership with Aboriginal communities. 'Only then can we move forward together in truth, respect and genuine understanding.' Executive director Leanne Little said while the coroner's findings were deeply confronting, they were not new to many Aboriginal people. She said what mattered now was how police responded to the findings. 'The Northern Territory Police Force is not going backwards, we are moving forward and over the past 12 months, I've already seen meaningful change occur across the organisation,' she said. Former NT Police constable Zach Rolfe was acquitted by a jury of murder, manslaughter, and engaging in a violent act causing death in the NT Supreme Court in 2022. Jason Walls Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Little is developing the Force's first anti-racism strategy to eliminate discrimination across the organisation. 'The coroner has made it clear, racism has existed in this organisation in all its forms,' she said. 'What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable, and that's not just a statement, that is a commitment.' Ms Little said they would take any necessary actions to rebuild trust through sustained partnerships and culturally informed community policing. 'I believe that we are on the right path,' she said. 'The past cannot be undone, but the future is ours to shape. 'This is not the end of a difficult process, it is a beginning of something far more important, lasting reform, shared respect and a police force that all Territorians can trust.' Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage recommended the NT Police make public and strengthen its anti-racism strategy in her report into the death of Aboriginal teen Kumanjayi Walker. Glen Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia Coroner Armitage recommended that the NT Police make public and strengthen its anti-racism strategy in her report. She also recommended police create agreements with Yuendumu leaders to decide when it would be appropriate for police to carry firearms in the community. 'NT Police Force must take steps through its training, supervision, culture and leadership to ensure racist attitudes do not develop and if they do, they are identified and corrected and are not tolerated or condoned,' Ms Armitage said. 'To be clear, many of the police officers who gave evidence to the inquest impressed me as curious and culturally sensitive officers who dedicated their working lives to serving the largely Aboriginal communities they were tasked to police,' she said. 'They were not racist. Even so, I found that racist language and actions were not confined to Mr Rolfe and this was not a case of one bad apple.'
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
Charges laid over restaurant clash
Three people have been charged following an alleged clash outside an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne's CBD. Police allege a group of about 20 people walked to Miznon on Hardware Lane just after 8pm last Friday. 'It's alleged several people in the group were involved in an affray where chairs were thrown,' Victoria Police said in a statement. 'Damage was caused to the glass door of the restaurant during the incident.' Police were called to the scene and directed the group to leave. On Monday morning, police arrested three people after executing a series of search warrants. A 50-year-old Richmond man, a 48-year-old Footscray woman and a 28-year-old Essendon woman have been charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage. Police arrested three people on Monday morning after executing a series of search warrants. Vic Pol Credit: Supplied The trio have been charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage. Vic Pol Credit: Supplied Both women were granted bail and will front Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 25. The Richmond man was remanded in custody and appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon. 'Victoria Police is disappointed with the actions of protesters in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night,' police said in a statement. 'Victoria Police continued to support the rights of Victorians to protest peacefully but will not tolerate the kind of anti-social and violent behaviour that was witnessed this evening.' Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted during the incident. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Miznon, the restaurant targeted during the incident, released a statement on Tuesday saying the events on Friday had had a 'profound impact'. 'The actions of a few caused much distress to our customers and to neighbouring restaurant patrons and staff,' the statement said. 'While others have chosen to speak about who we are and decided we are a legitimate target for protest, we want to be clear about who we are, in our words. 'We are a restaurant, a place of hospitality, of warmth and welcome. Our greatest joy is to feed people from every background and viewpoint.' Despite the damage, Miznon reopened the following day. Police allege Miznon was targeted by a 'splinter group' from a larger protest calling for an independent investigation into 'Vic Pol's indiscriminate use of force'. The incident occurred on the same night as an East Melbourne synagogue was targeted in an arson attack, and three cars torched outside a Greensborough business. Police are urging anyone with further information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
