A doctor who treated a teenage backpacker who died of alcohol poisoning in Laos has told how she went from confused to coma in just half an hour.
Holly Bowles, 19, of Melbourne, Australia, died of suspected methanol poisoning on Friday while traveling, just a day after the death of her best friend Bianca Jones.
Dr Yaher, from Vang Vieng City District Hospital, was the first medical professional to treat Ms Bowles, one of six tourists who lost their lives after consuming spirits contaminated with the chemical methanol.
Mrs Bowles died in a hospital in Thailand on Friday, nine days after being taken to Dr Yaher’s emergency room, just meters from the Nana Backpacker Hostel.
The young woman and her friend, Ms. Jones, collapsed at the hostel after accepting free spirit injections two nights earlier.
The doctor described Mrs. Bowles’ condition upon arrival at the hospital and said she went from a state of confusion to a coma within half an hour.
he said The times: ‘I was confused and sleepy. We asked him what he had eaten or drank, but he didn’t know what had happened.
Dr. Yaher suspected the teen may have consumed too many cannabis-infused gummies, which are common among tourists on the “banana pancake route” they were taking.
Australian teenager Holly Bowles, 19 (pictured), died after suffering suspected methanol poisoning while on holiday in Laos with her best friend.
Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) also died in hospital on Thursday.
After suffering a seizure and falling into a coma, Ms Bowles was initially taken by ambulance to Kasemrad International Hospital, before being rushed to Setthathirath Hospital in Vientiane.
She was then transferred for treatment in nearby Thailand.
Ms Bowles tragically lost her life there on November 22, just one day after Ms Jones, 19, and four other people who had stayed at the shelter also died.
Bowles’ family said in a statement: “We are heartbroken and very saddened to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.”
‘We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.
‘Holly was living her best life traveling around Southeast Asia, making new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.
‘As her parents, we were always incredibly proud of everything Holly did. Holly was an amazing big sister to James and always looked out for him.
Bowles and Jones were on sabbatical leave when they both fell ill on November 12.
Simone White, 28, from the UK, is one of six tourists who died after falling ill last week.
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.
Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured) claimed it wasn’t his Tiger Vodka that made tourists sick.
The city is a popular spot for young backpackers, especially those who are on a gap year or in their early 20s.
Staff became concerned after they were unable to leave on November 13 and agreed to take the couple to hospital after they “calmly” asked for help.
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.
Earlier Thursday, the US State Department confirmed the death of a US citizen, a 56-year-old man, in Vang Vieng.
British lawyer Simone White, 28, also died, while the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that two young people from Denmark also died.
Previously, the hostel’s director, Duong Duc Toan, was detained by local police.
An officer at the Vang Vieng Tourism Police office, who declined to give his name, said on Friday that “several people” had been detained in the case but no charges had yet been filed.
Staff at Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those questioned.