The father of Holly Bowles, 19, who died last month of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, said his daughter was “full of life” and “everything you would want your daughter to be”, and appealed to those responsible. render accounts.
Shaun Bowles said in a interview through tears with the BBC that her daughter was traveling in Southeast Asia with her friend, Bianca Jones, also 19, when they fell ill after drinking alcohol that was thought to be contaminated.
They were among six tourists who died in just a few days in the tourist hotspot of Vang Vieng, including Simone White, a 28-year-old British lawyer, who drank at the same hostel before falling seriously ill.
“They were having an incredible time, they were having a blast,” Mr Bowles told the BBC’s Today programme. “They were having a great time.”
Bowles said her daughter had been in contact regularly before learning she had fallen ill through a friend. Holly and Bianca’s mothers soon flew to Thailand to visit them at the Udon Thani hospital where they had been transferred.
Bianca tragically died on Thursday 21 November and Holly a day later.
Bowles told the BBC his goal was to raise awareness of the problem of methanol poisoning in Southeast Asia.
“We absolutely want whoever is responsible for this to be held accountable and brought to justice, and we are going to do everything we can to make sure that happens,” he added.
Australian teenager Holly Bowles died after suffering suspected methanol poisoning in Laos
Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died in a hospital in Thailand in late November.
Bowles spoke to the BBC about his daughter and hopes to raise awareness about methanol poisoning following her tragic death last month.
Heartbroken father spoke out bravely and called for those responsible to be held accountable
Bowles said he and Bianca’s father, Mark, had also taken a trip to Thailand about 25 years ago as friends.
He said his daughters were in Laos to celebrate their graduation from school.
They were taken to hospital after they were found unconscious as they had not been able to leave the Nana Backpacker hotel.
Last week, Holly Bowles was finally sent to Beaumaris Secondary College in Australia, where she invited friends and family to gather for an intimate service.
Mourners lined the street outside the school in a guard of honor as Mrs Bowles made her final journey.
“We would like to thank the people of Australia, Canada and the rest of the world for the outpouring of love, support and compassion during this extremely difficult time,” Beaumaris Secondary College vice-principal Peter Bartlett said on behalf of Ms’ parents. Bowles, Shaun. and Samantha, and her brother James.
‘Your kindness has been a source of strength and comfort to our family. Today is a deeply meaningful day for our family as we come together to celebrate Holly’s life.
‘Holly was loved and adored by many people. Today is a reflection of his life, but it will remain in our hearts forever.’
Closed-circuit cameras from inside the shelter show Bowles and Jones being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorcycle driven by a hotel worker.
The three young women were staying at Nana’s Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng.
Kayaking tourists in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos, where six people died from suspected methanol poisoning.
Simone White, 28, died in hospital after drinking alcohol suspected to contain methanol at the Vang Vieng backpacker hotspot.
The family reminded people that a GoFundMe was still operating in honor of their daughter and Ms. Jones.
The fundraiser, which aims to raise awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning, had raised more than $413,000 of its half-million-dollar goal as Mrs Bowles made her sad, final journey to her resting place.
Asking for future privacy, the family reiterated how difficult it had been to deal with the death of their beloved daughter.
“These are the most difficult times of our lives and we thank you for respecting our privacy,” the statement concludes.
Known for her love of music, the service for Ms. Bowles included songs such as Mamma Mia by Abba and Chihiro by Billie Eilish.
Bowles was the sixth person to die after drinks were allegedly mixed with methanol and served to hostel guests.
Jones and Bowles did not leave their bedroom at Nana Backpacker Hostel 24 hours after going to Jaidee Bar and reported feeling unwell on November 13, before being rushed to hospitals in Bangkok.
Closed-circuit cameras from inside the shelter show one of the women being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorcycle driven by a hotel worker.
Holly Bowles (left) and Bianca Jones (right) played for Beaumaris Football Club.
Thai authorities have confirmed that Ms Jones died of “brain inflammation due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.
The bodies of both girls were flown back to Australia a week after their deaths.
Bianca Jones said goodbye at Mentone Girl’s Grammar in Melbourne’s south east on Friday 6 December.
Hundreds of mourners gathered dressed in all the colors of the rainbow in honor of the teenager.
Ms Jones’ family said they were looking forward to spending “the most important day” of their lives saying goodbye and mourning their beautiful daughter.
“Bianca was a reserved young woman, with a wonderful network, but she was not a celebrity,” they said in a statement.
“It is our hope that Bianca says goodbye in a way that reflects her life.”
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the case.
Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured) claimed it was not his Tiger Vodka that made tourists sick.
A memorial card for the funeral of Holly Jayne Morton-Bowles held at Beaumaris Secondary College in Melbourne
In a video from September, the best friends danced happily together just weeks before their deadly backpacking trip.
Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan and bartender Toan Van Vanng denied diluting their alcohol with methanol when questioned.
Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, also died after receiving injections believed to contain methanol at the hostel last month.
Sue White, mother of the British victim, told The Sun how the hostel offered free shots of whiskey or vodka for two hours every night.
Toan said he purchased the alcohol from a certified distributor and that free shots of Tiger Vodka had been served to about 100 guests.
He said he had yet to receive complaints from other backpackers who received injections that night.
He also drank from one of the vodka bottles used that night to prove it was safe.
White said her daughter and her “kind and fun” friends had “six drinks” each, diluted with Sprite, before getting sick and having “trouble breathing.”
She told The Sun how Simone and two friends went to hospital the next day, but were “dismissed” by doctors, who told them they had food poisoning.
Simone and her friends went to the hospital when they felt bad but were “said goodbye”
By the time an ambulance arrived to take them to a private facility, Simone was already “delirious,” her mother said, adding, “I think it had basically affected her brain.”
White, a travel agent, said the family was “absolutely devastated” by the news of their daughter’s tragic death.
Her parents said together in a moving tribute: “Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life.”
“She was a soul who gave so much to so many people and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues,” they said.
‘They have taken Simone from us too soon; She will be deeply missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family.
“Our hearts go out to all the other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”
The other three victims have been identified as James Louis Hutson, a 57-year-old American, and Danish citizens Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21.