(21 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bangkok, Thailand - 21 November 2024
1. Wide of Bangkok Hospital where an Australian teenager is being treated after consuming tainted drinks in neighboring Laos
2. Mid of Bangkok Hospital logo
3. Various of entrance
4. Pan of Bangkok Hospital
5. Mid of vehicles
6. Wide of Trauma Center
7. Various of roads around Bangkok Hospital
8. Tilt down of Bangkok Hospital
STORYLINE:
An Australian teenager is being treated in hospital in Thailand on Thursday, after drinking tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, Laos.

Another Australian teenager died after also drinking tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng.

The U.S. State Department confirmed an American also died in the same party town, bringing the death toll to four.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones had died after being evacuated from Laos for treatment in a Thai hospital.

Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia's poorest nations and a popular tourist destination.

Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.

Details on the alcohol poisoning began trickling out about a week after the two Australian women fell ill on Nov. 13 following a night out drinking with a group in the remote town.

They are believed to have consumed drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used as the alcohol in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause severe poisoning or death.

Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.”

The State Department confirmed to The Associated Press in an emailed statement that an American tourist had also died but said it had no further comment out of respect to the family.

It said local authorities were investigating and that the U.S. was providing consular assistance.

New Zealand's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that one of its citizens was also unwell in Laos and could be a victim of methanol poisoning.

Denmark's Foreign Ministry, when asked about the poisoning incident, said Wednesday that two of its citizens had died in Laos but would not provide further details.

AP video by Jerry Harmer

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