British Backpacker Survives Methanol Poisoning Incident in Laos, Reflects on Tragedy

British traveler Bethany Clarke has recounted the traumatic symptoms she endured after surviving a suspected methanol poisoning while staying at a hotel in Laos. Clarke described herself as fortunate to be alive after the ordeal, which tragically claimed the lives of six international tourists, including her childhood friend, 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White.

During a working holiday in Brisbane, Clarke and White met up and decided to holiday in Laos. On November 12, they stayed at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, where they enjoyed complimentary whisky and vodka shots that are now suspected to have been contaminated with methanol. The following morning, both women fell seriously ill and were taken to a hospital, where White succumbed to her condition days later.

In their account, Clarke mentioned that she and White each consumed six shots and noted that the drinks appeared innocuous, stating that had they looked suspicious, she would not have ingested them. Clarke emphasized that they observed the bartender pouring clear liquids from a bottle labeled vodka, making them unsuspecting of any danger. Following their consumption, both tourists experienced severe fatigue and nausea, which prompted assistance from other travelers to get them to the hospital.

Upon arrival, White’s health rapidly declined, and she was placed in a coma; Clarke was forced to call her mother in the UK for permission for White to undergo brain surgery. The ordeal was excruciating for White’s mother, who later had to make the heart-wrenching decision to remove her daughter's life support, due to the doctors' religious beliefs against doing so.

Despite her own recovery and return to the UK, Clarke has expressed that she could have easily faced a similar fate as her friend. She attributes her survival to potentially lower methanol levels in her drinks. The incident has also sparked outrage among the families of the other victims, as the fathers of Morton-Bowles and Jones have demanded accountability from Laotian authorities, voicing frustration over their lack of communication regarding their daughters’ tragic deaths.