Latest news with #backpacker
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
British backpacker, 25, goes missing in Kuala Lumpur after last seen at Bangsar bar
KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — A 25-year-old British backpacker has gone missing while on a solo trip across South-east Asia. He was last heard from on Tuesday, May 27, after sending a photo from Healy Mac's Irish Bar in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. According to the Daily Mail, Jordan Johnson-Doyle's phone went dead on May 30 — three days after his last known contact — and all attempts to reach him since have failed. Doyle has been travelling the past year while working remotely as a software engineer for a US-based company. He was said to have arrived in Malaysia on May 17 after visiting Vietnam and was believed to be staying at the Robertson Residences in Bukit Bintang. His last conversation with his mother on May 26 was described as routine. His mother, Leanne Burnett, who is flying to Malaysia with other family members to search for him, said: 'I have been feeling just sick, numb. I just want to get over there, find him and bring him home.' She was also quoted as saying: 'If he was to lose his phone and laptop, if someone had stolen that off him, he knows my number by heart and he would contact. He'd find a way to get hold of us.' Merseyside Police, the British Consulate, and Malaysian authorities. His last known location was tracked via Find My iPhone to a block of flats near the Bangsar bar, but the signal has since stopped. Friends and relatives are now sharing Jordan's missing person appeal across social media and local Malaysian networks, hoping for any information that might help locate him. His employer has also been informed of his disappearance.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
British backpacker missing after night out in Bangsar
Jordan Johnson-Doyle, 25, was last believed to be at Healy Mac's Irish Bar in Bangsar on May 27. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A 25-year-old British man has been reported missing by his family after a night out at a bar in Bangsar on May 27. According to the Daily Mail UK, Jordan Johnson-Doyle was on a solo tour of Southeast Asia and had been backpacking in the region. He was believed to have gone to Healy Mac's Irish Bar in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, for a pub quiz, based on a photo he sent to his mother, Leanne Burnett. AdChoices ADVERTISING 'I have no idea what has happened. All I know is something is really wrong for him not to contact anybody,' Burnett was quoted as saying. 'I know what he's like and he knows how worried everyone gets at home. That is why he checks in all the time.' Burnett said even if his phone or laptop had been stolen, her son knows her number and would have found a way to call. 'He would go to the nearest hotel to use the phone, or go to an internet café. He'd find a way to get hold of us,' she said, according to the report in the UK daily. She added that a location check using the Find My iPhone app showed his phone last pinged at a residential building near the bar. The signal stopped three days later on May 30 when the battery is believed to have died. Jordan, a software engineer, had arrived in Malaysia on May 17 after travelling from Vietnam. He works remotely while backpacking across the region, his mother said. It is unclear where he was staying in Kuala Lumpur. A missing person report has been filed with Merseyside police, the British consulate, and Malaysian police. Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain told FMT he will ask Kuala Lumpur police to check for any such reports and promised to investigate further. FMT has also reached out to the British high commission for comment.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I quit my job to travel - this is the money mistake I made and how to avoid it
We're often told quitting is weak, a way out for those not headstrong enough to handle certain pressures, but I couldn't disagree more. The first time I quit a job was back in 2009, leaving my first London-based magazine office job in exchange for 12 months of exploration through 15 countries on a seriously tight budget. And the last came about just over 15 months ago, when I decided to become a full-time freelance travel writer. At 38, it was one of the scarier leaps to make, yet undoubtedly one of the best decisions I've ever made. But there are definitely a few things I wish I'd known before jumping into the unknown… here's what I've learnt along the way. Don't dawdle, time is precious The younger you are, the easier it is to quit. I was just 23 when I first quit a job for a year-long backpacking trip, and I made the decision instantly as soon as I'd saved enough money. I had a few worries about how easy it would be to get employed when I returned, but they were soon forgotten as soon as I hit the road. Yet, quitting in your 30s is a different ball game. I deliberated for three long years before I finally plucked up the courage to do it, and you know what? I wish I had done it much, much sooner. Making the decision was by far the hardest thing about it, but once it was done, I've never regretted it or looked back. What I've come to realise now is that time is so precious; We don't know how long we're going to be here, so if you're not happy with your current situation, it's worth changing whatever you can, as soon as possible. It'll cost more than you planned for While I like to travel in a more refined way these days, I was a budget backpacking pro in my 20s, and managed to spend spend just £7,000 in a year visiting 15 countries. But before I set out, I had only planned to spend £5,000 before realising mid-way through that wasn't enough. For this reason, I always make sure I have saved enough to last my entire trip, plus money to live off when returning home and looking for a new job, and extra cash for unplanned issues while I'm away. If in doubt, save at least £2-3,000 more than you think you need. And if you have a student loan, you also need to think about the interest, which, regardless of being fairly low, adds up over the duration of your trip away. You may have to take a pay cut when you return After my first long-term trip, I managed to secure a new job a couple of months after returning to the UK, yet the salary was just £17,000 - much lower than the job I had left. But a job is a job, and I took it and managed to survive by living in a large London house share, cycling everywhere, and taking a packed lunch to work every day. It was sometimes tricky, but it definitely wasn't the end of my career, and I got a good pay rise a year later. Friends and family will cast doubts over your decision The beauty of human beings is that we are all very different; we think in different ways, we have different passions, and completely different fears, so don't be surprised if people place their fears on you. When contemplating quitting a job, over 80 percent of the people you talk to will tell you not to do it. But it's important to listen to your instincts. It's your life, and you have to live it in a way that's true to you. If travel is important to you and you're in a secure financial position, thank friends and family for their advice, but don't let them discourage you if it's what your heart is telling you to do. It's not that big of a deal When you're in the routine of life, doing the same thing day in and day out, breaking that cycle can feel like the biggest deal. But guess what? It's not that wild. 'Once you begin to travel, you will realise that the world is full of people living in unique ways,' says Lydia, pictured in Yerevan, Armenia Once you begin to travel, you will realise that the world is full of people living in unique ways. People of all ages travel, volunteer, move countries, fall in love, and change their entire life plans. I've met widows who've sold everything to travel alone long-term, families who've pulled their kids out of school for adventure, and many, many people who have moved across the world for love. You may lose friends Being in a position where you can quit your job can be triggering for people who aren't as free. Debts, mortgages, family, and illness can all prevent people from doing some of the things they might want to, and so it can be difficult for them to see others doing it. And that goes for both parties - there are things my friends have that I might hanker after at points on the road. But good friends are supportive through whatever situation you happen to be going through, and vice versa. If big decisions filter out some people in your circle, it's not a bad thing; the friends remaining will be friends for life. It's not that scary out there Social media and news outlets overflow with horror stories from around the globe, showcasing the worst of humanity on a daily basis - it's no wonder many are afraid to go out of their comfort zones. And while, of course, it's imperative to be sensible (especially when travelling alone as a woman), people the world over are generally very kind and generous. Some of my most memorable moments have been with wonderfully warm strangers who have treated me like family. And it's for moments like those that I continue to travel.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Missing Brit backpacker's heartwarming first words revealed after she was found homeless in Peru by heroic uni friend
THE first words of the missing British backpacker who was found homeless in Peru have been revealed by a university pal who flew out to track her down. Hannah Almond, 32, had vanished in Cusco, Peru, after being robbed and was left sleeping rough under a bridge. 8 8 8 The tourist from Grimsby is said to have wrapped her arms around pal Matti and told him "I love you" after local Piero Villanueva found her slumped on a pavement. Piero - a Good Samaritan - had managed to track Hannah down after briefly meeting her in Lima. Matti - who reportedly met Hannah when they studied together at Leeds Beckett University - had flown out on an urgent mission to rescue her. He said: "I came straight off the flight, and before I got to my accommodation I got the taxi to drop me off at the main square where she was with her friend. "She wrapped her arms around me and said 'I love you'. "She was wearing superman pyjamas given to her by a friend as she has nothing to her name. "Minimal clothing, no money, and no personal items like a phone or passport." Matti also helped Hannah reunite with some of the pals she had originally gone travelling with. Speaking of Hannah's fragile state, he told MailOnline:"I think she was overwhelmed when I saw her if I'm honest. Fisherman survives 3 MONTHS lost at sea by eating turtles, birds & cockroaches after being blown off course by storm "After some time she has expressed love and gratitude for me being here. We sat and had a bottle of water and talked about home. "She didn't want to eat anything at the time. We have listened to some music that reminded us of friends and times back in Leeds." According to Matti, Hannah has made calls back to home in Grimsby, with the pal ensuring she gets the help she needs and paying for her expenses while they remain in Peru. Local hero Piero confirmed he found Hannah yesterday before posting a smiling selfie of them together. In an interview with a local TV station, he described how Hannah recognised him and broke down in tears before agreeing to leave with him. He said: "I have just found her. She is safe and well. I'd like to thank the authorities and the people who contacted me so I could help her. "Hannah recognised me and approached me crying and I asked her to leave with me. Thanks God she's safe." Piero had been liaising with the British Consul and Hannah's friends in a WhatsApp group, coordinating efforts to track her down. 8 8 8 He searched late into the night on Saturday after she was last seen near Cusco's San Pedro market. He said: 'We searched from 7pm until 3am, and again on Sunday.' Footage from local media shows the pair together walking through Cusco together shortly after their reunion. A GoFundMe page set up to help bring Hannah home confirmed she had been found thanks to the massive online effort. A friend wrote: "Due to the help of everyone sharing the story, Hannah has thankfully been found and one of her friends is on the way to Cusco to persuade her to accept support and come home. "We know she has been refusing help due to the complexity of her mental health, so it is most likely that she will need to be placed into psychiatric care before getting a flight back. "This is an ongoing process but we are doing all we can to bring her back safely." Another pal Sophie Wallace revealed the fashion graduate had travelled to Peru in March "hoping for an adventure" but ended up in a "terrifying and heartbreaking situation". She said: "She was robbed and assaulted, losing her passport, phone, and all of her money. "Since then Hannah's mental health, something she has long struggled with, has severely declined. "She is now in the midst of a mental health crisis, living under a bridge with a homeless man she befriended — the only person she currently trusts." Attempts to get her help through the embassy or police had failed, with Sophie adding: "She is extremely vulnerable, isolated, and not safe living on the streets of Peru." 8 8 Fears for her safety deepened after she had her belongings burned and was evicted from her makeshift shelter under the Belén Bridge. Mark Atkinson, the British Consul in Peru, said Hannah had arrived in Cusco in March and had not intended to overstay her visa. He revealed her immigration status was now "in limbo". He said that before she vanished, the embassy had offered support — including hotel stays and food — but she kept returning to sleep under the same bridge. Local media reports say she is now 'being cared for and accompanied' and that repatriation procedures are underway. Piero had spoken just hours before finding her about why he felt compelled to act. "I met Hannah in Lima where I come from," he said. "I decided to travel to Cusco at the request of her friends and family after seeing her situation online — she was sleeping under a bridge." He added: 'She didn't have money or documents after being robbed. "She was a victim of the insecurity in Cusco." FCDO travel advice to Peru THE UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to certain parts of Peru due to ongoing safety and security concerns. Affected areas: Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border (Loreto region), excluding the Amazon River and triple border area near Santa Rosa de Yavari. Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) — a known hotspot for criminal activity. State of emergency: A State of Emergency is in place until June 17 across the Lima and Callao regions, including key districts such as San Juan de Lurigancho, Villa El Salvador, and Comas. This allows joint police-army operations and the suspension of certain constitutional rights - including detention without a judicial order. Travel insurance warning: Travelling against FCDO advice may invalidate your travel insurance. Make sure your policy covers your entire itinerary, including adventure activities or volunteering. Stay informed and read the full FCDO travel guidance before travelling.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The four words survivor of methanol tragedy that killed six tourists wants every backpacker to know
'Steer clear, drink beer'. They're the four words Bethany Clarke wants every backpacker heading to Southeast Asia to remember. That's because six months ago, the 28-year-old Brisbane resident watched her best friend's devastated mother struggle to turn off her daughter's life support in a Laos hospital — and she doesn't want anyone else to go through the same experience. "I just sat there watching her stats on the monitor slowly get lower and lower," Bethany recalled to Yahoo News Australia. Because of the language barrier, the steps required weren't fully communicated, meaning the ordeal took over an hour. "It was just horrendous," she said. Bethany is one of the survivors of the Laos methanol poisoning tragedy that made headlines around the world. Six people died, including Bethany's best friend Simone White, a British lawyer, and the two Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones. It's believed all six victims, as well as other tourists hospitalised at the time, drank the same spirits suspected of being laced with lethal doses of methanol. Bethany and Simone, both from the UK and friends since childhood, were travelling Southeast Asia with another friend David last November when they arrived in Vang Vieng, a Laos backpacker hotspot which had tried to repair what was once a notorious reputation for cheap alcohol and drugs several decades ago. They settled into the Nana Backpackers Hostel before heading down to its bar and enjoying its famous free shots offered every night during happy hour. And while there was nothing that stood out as concerning to her, Bethany did have her reservations. "I remember looking at the sign and thinking 'Christ, the alcohol must be very cheap to be able to make it free for two hours'," Bethany noted. The group went on to consume five to six shots each at the bar. The next day they started to feel off. Booked in for a day of kayaking, they felt lethargic and couldn't muster the energy to do much at all. "Simone and I just had to lie there looking up at the sky," Bethany recalled after getting onto a kayak each. They soldiered on and hours later they were on a bus to the next destination of their holiday but their conditions deteriorated. With Simone repeatedly throwing up and Bethany fainting, their friend David wasn't taking any chances and took them to the nearest hospital. It was there that Simone would then take a turn for the worse. "She started going into respiratory distress and was gasping for breath and couldn't talk," Bethany said. "She couldn't even look at me properly." Now seriously fearing for her welfare in an overcrowded facility, they managed to relocate to a private hospital where they were admitted to the ICU in private rooms. Little did Bethany know, she would never speak with her best friend again. "The next day the doctors told me she was doing better but she'd had a seizure. I contacted her mum Sue by text saying we were in hospital but Simone is doing better now, but we need to wait for her to wake up from sedation. "And of course, she never woke up." Simone's mother flew out as quickly as she could from the UK, and by the time her mum arrived she'd had surgery on her brain to try and alleviate built-up pressure. Despite having just a 20 per cent success rate, it worked. But tragically doctors discovered she would need surgery on the other side of her head after discovering further swelling. Such a procedure would leave her in a coma indefinitely. Without it, she would endure a prolonged death. After four days and assistance from the consulate to convince doctors to agree to her wishes, Sue was allowed to turn off her daughter's life support. While the hospital eventually began to suspect methanol poisoning was the cause of their symptoms, Bethany had no idea she was part of a much-wider tragedy impacting tourists from all around the world. When other backpackers presented to the same hospital with similar symptoms, it soon became apparent this was not an isolated incident. By this point, other tourists and friends of those impacted began leaving desperate warnings about the hostel on Google Reviews. Several posts tried to get the message out there that people who drank at the hostel were ending up in hospital in serious conditions impacting their breathing and vision. But they were met with accusations of slander by the hostel, and soon after, to the dismay of those impacted, the Google reviews vanished. "I didn't even realise that could happen. I was just so surprised... those Google Reviews were supposed to be protecting the public. It's crazy," Bethany said. Not knowing what else to do, she turned to Facebook and left a series of posts in specific groups for travellers in Laos. It was soon after she learned about Melbourne teens Holly and Bianca being taken to Thai hospitals in serious conditions, as well as the two young Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman and Freja Vennervald Sorensen who were also hospitalised. All four would later die in the tragedy. "While we were there in the hospital there were more and more people coming in and we were thinking 'Jesus Christ, how big is this problem?'" Bethany recalled. Google failed to respond to Yahoo's request for comment about the deleted reviews before publication. Bethany, a self-proclaimed worrier who 'overthinks everything", revealed to Yahoo one "red flag" encounter with the hostel before they'd even arrived could have meant they avoided the deadly bar altogether. When they were at the airport heading to Laos, they realised their room booking wasn't for three people so they called the hostel. But both Simone and Bethany failed to get a straight answer from the receptionist and grew increasingly frustrated with the situation. It was at that point they decided to find alternative accomodation. "I said to Simone we need to book a hotel, so we found one and had it all booked but David in the meantime had managed to sort it out with the hostel and book a three-person room so we had to revert back to the hostel." When they arrived, they were met by someone else who Bethany said was much more accommodating, meaning her reservations about the place were quickly forgotten. But in hindsight, she wishes that red flag had been enough to convince them to move on. "I would have liked to think we wouldn't have gone to the hostel bar if we'd ended up at the hotel, but you just don't know," Bethany told Yahoo. "I kept second guessing everything when it all happened. It's all these should haves, would haves. You can't keep doing it to yourself." Bethany is now campaigning to have methanol education implemented into schools' curriculums in her native UK. The motto of her campaign is "steer clear, drink beer". It is similar to the messaging used by Colin Ahearn, a seasoned campaigner who has worked tirelessly in Australia to warn tourists of the dangers of methanol poisoning overseas, particularly in Bali via his Facebook awareness page "Just Don't Drink Spirits in Bali". The idea of both campaigns is to prevent tourists drinking free-poured spirits. And while the risk is low, there is a chance liquors sold abroad contain methanol, a deadly byproduct of distillation which can be found in bootleg spirits. Just 25ml of methanol consumed can prove fatal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Methanol Awareness for Simone White (@simonewhitemethanolawareness) Over the years Colin has helped guide countless tourists from around the world who experience methanol poisoning, the majority of whom had no idea of what it was beforehand. Colin praised Bethany's courage and determination to make a change, something he's been trying to do with little assistance. Both Colin and Bethany believe more needs to be done by governments, fearing a simple update of their travel advice sites is not enough to protect tourists. Details of the ongoing investigations in Laos are scarce, with even the families of those impacted fed very little information through their respective embassies from Lao authorities. And while Yahoo understands charges against several people involved will be laid, whether that involves charges directly related to the six deaths is unclear, leaving families fearing true accountability for what has taken place won't be achieved. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
