The mother of British lawyer Simone White, who died in a suspected poisoning incident in Laos, has urged travelers to exercise caution when consuming drinks abroad. White, 28, from Orpington in southeast London, was one of several individuals who fell critically ill after consuming alcohol believed to have been laced with methanol in the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng.
Six tourists, including White, died in the incident, which has shocked both the local and international communities. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Sue White, Simone’s mother, expressed the heartbreak of losing her daughter and issued a stark warning to others. “Please be careful when it comes to drinks,” she said. “Simone was a university-educated, highly intelligent person. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anybody.”
Tragic Circumstances: The tragic events unfolded when Simone and her friends were served vodka shots at the Nana Backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng. It is believed that the alcohol they consumed was contaminated with methanol, a highly toxic substance often found in illicit or homemade alcohol. Methanol poisoning is a known risk in some parts of the world, where it is sometimes added to bootlegged drinks due to its lower cost.
Simone’s mother described the moment she was notified of her daughter’s critical condition by the hospital. “I knew when I had that phone call – I don’t know what it was, call it a mother’s intuition – but I knew that she was going to die,” Sue White told the Sunday Times.
Following the call, White embarked on a harrowing 16-hour journey to be by her daughter’s side. “It was a terrible, terrible journey. I had to go through the whole flight thinking she was going through brain surgery,” she recalled.
When Sue White arrived at the hospital, Simone was being prepared for surgery. “It was horrendous. Absolutely horrendous,” she said, noting that Simone’s long blonde hair had been shaved off for the procedure. Despite the medical team’s efforts, it became clear that Simone’s brain function had ceased, and she passed away on November 21.
The Dangers of Methanol: Medical experts have warned that ingesting as little as 25 milliliters of methanol can be fatal. Methanol, unlike ethanol (the type of alcohol typically found in beverages), is poisonous to humans, and even small amounts can cause irreversible damage to vital organs, particularly the brain and liver. Methanol is commonly found in bootleg alcohol, often due to its cheaper production costs.
Simone’s two childhood friends, who had been traveling with her, survived the ordeal but are said to be deeply traumatized by the experience.
Ongoing Investigation: Laotian authorities have detained several individuals in connection with the deaths of Simone and five other tourists. However, details of the investigation have remained scarce, with the Lao government maintaining a tight grip on information. Laos is a one-party communist state, and there has been little public disclosure regarding the case.
Simone White, a lawyer with the global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, had been traveling through Southeast Asia at the time of her death. Her body is expected to be repatriated to the UK this weekend, ahead of her funeral.
A Final Warning: In the wake of this tragedy, Sue White’s message to other travelers is clear: “Please be careful with what you drink when you’re abroad.” Her call for awareness and caution resonates as a stark reminder of the risks associated with consuming alcohol in countries where it may be adulterated with harmful substances.
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