‘No one should have to suffer like Simone': Survivor of Laos methanol tragedy calls for sweeping safety measures in airports

Sky News AU

07-07-2025

A British woman who narrowly survived a lethal methanol poisoning incident in Laos last year has spoken publicly for the first time, calling on authorities around the globe to roll out airport safety campaigns to prevent similar tragedies.
Bethany Clarke, who had been travelling through Southeast Asia in late 2024, was among a group of international backpackers who unknowingly consumed methanol-laced alcohol at a hostel bar in the Laos tourist hotspot of Vang Vieng.
Tragically, her best friend and travel companion, Simone White, was one of six people who died as a result of the poisoning.
'In November 2024, my childhood best friend Simone White, tragically and unexpectedly passed away in Laos. After we unknowingly consumed drinks laced with methanol in our hostel bar, Simone suffered irreversible brain damage,' Ms Clarke said.
Ms White's mother was forced to make the devastating decision to switch off her daughter's life support following the incident.
The poisoning, which took place at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, left a string of victims in its wake.
Among the deceased were Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both aged 19, as well as other holidaymakers from around the world including Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and James Louis Hutson, 57.
Others suffered severe consequences, with some losing their sight and many left traumatised by the events.
Following an investigation by Laotian authorities, 11 staff members, including the hostel's manager, were arrested in connection with the incident.
The hostel, though now closed and under renovation, recently appeared on travel sites under a different name - 'Vang Vieng Central Backpaper Hostel' - but with the same address.
TripAdvisor told the BBC it had received a request to change the venue's name but said no proof of a change in ownership had been provided, meaning historical reviews would remain publicly visible.
Ms Clarke, determined to prevent future deaths, is lobbying for stricter awareness measures in international airports, including high-visibility signs, leaflets, and staffed guidance points warning travellers of methanol dangers in certain regions.
'Methanol poisoning is a growing yet preventable problem in many countries, particularly in regions where alcohol is unregulated,' she said.
'Methanol can be present in high concentrations within counterfeit alcohol and can result in severe health issues, including seizures, blindness and even death.
'Travellers, who are often unaware of these dangers, are putting themselves at risk when drinking cocktails and other alcoholic drinks overseas.'
'These measures can greatly reduce the risk and offer a safer travelling experience for all. No one should have to go through the pain and loss we've experienced losing Simone.'