Grim Laos backpacker survey shows scale of tourist horrors after methanol poisonings

Brit Simone White 28, DanesAnne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, American James Louis Hutson, 57, and Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, all died

A backpacker says he has stepped in to try to uncover the true extent of trouble fellow travellers are getting in during their time in the Laos fun-trap of Vang Vieng.

Six tourists - including Brit Simone White - have died of suspected methanol poisoning after having tainted drinks in the spot popular with young people.

All six victims, Simone, 28, Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, American man James Louis Hutson, 57, and Australians Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, were staying at the Nana Backpackers Hostel, which the local police have since shut down.

But a traveller from Europe who says he was friends with some of those who died, has since carried out his own small survey of 20 people. He says of those he asked 14 had themselves fallen ill or know someone who fell ill while staying at the hostel.

It is not clear what these people's symptoms were, whether it was simply normal ailments while visiting less well-off countries, or much more serious as in the case of the six who died.

The man, who is travelling through Southeast Asia, made an online report of what he found, according to Australian news outlet news.com.au.

He says he was trying to fill the void left by Laotian authorities. As part of the report, he spoke to a woman who tried to help his friends who died. The woman alleged the hostel did not call an ambulance even when one of the women was having a seizure.

Instead, a worker allegedly massaged the Danish woman’s toes and feet, saying that it was only a panic attack and, “‘I’m saving her, don’t worry’.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia had offered to support authorities in Laos in the investigation, including through the assistance of the Australian Federal Police.

Mr Albanese said Australian officials would work closely with their international counterparts “to co-ordinate approaches” in an effort to prevent another “tragic incident” like this occurring again.

He said: “We want to work with other governments based upon this experience to see whether any action can be taken.

“Obviously it is a sovereign nation, Laos, but I know they are devastated as are the governments of other countries who have been impacted by this.”

The Laotian government has promised to bring the perpetrators to justice, saying the nation was “profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists”.

The statement read: “The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law."

A spokesman for the hostel said it bought the alcohol from a certified distributor and insisted it had not been tainted by hostel staff. They told the Associated Press: “Right now the police (are telling) every hostel and hotel and bar to stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng.”

No one has been charged over the incident.