The families of two best friends now on life support in separate hospitals in Thailand after allegedly drinking methanol-laced cocktails say they are “living every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19 from Melbourne, felt unwell while staying at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Laos last week.
The best friends were on a gap year trip for a ‘dream getaway’ through Southeast Asia when authorities suspect they drank poisoned cocktails allegedly containing contaminated ‘vodka’ shots while on holiday in the party town of Vang Vieng .
Jones and Bowles were rushed to hospitals in Udon Thani and Bangkok, respectively, after telling shelter staff they needed medical attention.
Jones’ parents broke their silence Wednesday to reveal that they hope local police can quickly uncover what happened.
“Our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support that have come from all over Australia,” they said. told the Herald Sun.
‘This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure that no other family is forced to endure the heartbreak we are going through.
“We hope that the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible.”
The girls were part of a group of 14 tourists who also fell ill in what authorities fear was a mass poisoning that has already claimed the lives of two Danish women in their 20s.
Bianca Jones and her best friend are on life support in separate hospitals in Thailand after falling ill in Laos last week.
Jones and her best friend Holly Bowles (pictured) are two of 14 tourists believed to have been victims of mass methanol poisoning in the party town of Vang Vieng.
The couple had booked a four-night stay at Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they had been drinking the night before starting to feel unwell.
Bowles’ father, Shaun Bowles, said his family spent every possible minute by Holly’s side.
“Right now our daughter remains in an intensive care unit, in critical condition, on life support,” he told reporters outside the Bangkok hospital on Wednesday.
‘We would just like to thank everyone at home for all the support and love we are receiving.
“We would also like people to appreciate it at the moment, we just need privacy so we can spend as much time with Holly as possible.”
The two teenagers had booked a four-night stay at Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they had been drinking and playing cards in the bar on the night they were poisoned.
The Jones family released a statement Tuesday, saying their daughter had been on a “dream getaway with her best friend Holly.”
“They were full of joy and had incredible adventures ahead of them, traveling across Asia,” the statement said. ‘We are here at Bianca’s bed praying for her. “Please respect our privacy at this difficult time.”
The girls’ families have said they are still on life support in separate hospitals.
Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan, who served the girls the Laotian vodka, claimed that it was not his Tiger Vodka that made the girls sick.
Toan said the girls had had three drinks each between 8pm and 10.30pm before leaving for another location.
Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan, who treated the girls, claimed it was not their Tiger Vodka that made them sick.
Toan said he bought the alcohol from a certified distributor and insisted that neither he nor his staff had contaminated it.
He said the drinks, a gesture of hospitality, were served to about 100 guests and the lodge had not received any other complaints.
To prove his point, the bartender drank from one of the vodka bottles that were in use that night to prove that it was safe.
Toan said Jones and Bowles were at the bar from 8pm to 10:30pm and had three drinks each in that time.
He served them a Tiger vodka from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic containing 40 percent alcohol and mixed it with ice and Coca-Cola Zero.
“Right now the police (are telling) all hostels, hotels and bars to stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng,” he told the Associated Press.
Jones’ parents have said they hope local authorities can find out what happened to their daughter.
Bowels’ father said his family spent every moment they could at his bedside in Thailand.
Friends of Ms Jones and Ms Bowles in Melbourne have been organizing private vigils in the days since his friends went on life support.
Last year, the couple graduated from Mentone Girls’ Grammar and Beaumaris Secondary College.
Both were very involved in Beaumaris football club.
Club president Nick Heath said both girls loved the sport and their teammates were “struggling” to come to terms with what had happened to them.
“The Beaumaris Football Club extends its love, best wishes and unwavering support to Holly and Bianca in their time of need,” Heath said in a statement.
‘Our sincere thoughts are also with his parents Samantha and Shaun Bowles, Michelle and Mark Jones, as well as his family and friends.
‘The situation that occurred while both girls were traveling in Southeast Asia is tragic and distressing.
“Now more than ever, the shark community at large needs to lean on each other for comfort and support.”
Beaumaris Football Club is “struggling” to understand what has happened to the girls.