A tragic incident has claimed the life of a woman who unknowingly consumed methanol-laced shots. Bethany Clarke, 28, hailing from Orpington in southeast London, embarked on a backpacking journey with her close friend, Simone White, 28, through Southeast Asia last year.
The fatal turn of events occurred when both women ingested bootleg alcohol, leading to the unfortunate demise of Simone. Their travels began in Cambodia and continued to Laos, where they engaged in a day of river tubing, a popular tourist activity, followed by a night of drinking at their hostel.
Bethany recounted their consumption of methanol-laced shots, mentioning they had several each, mixed with Sprite. The following day, they experienced unusual symptoms, feeling unwell in a manner unfamiliar to standard hangovers.
Despite their discomfort, they proceeded with their plans, visiting the Blue Lagoon and kayaking down the river. Bethany described their weakened state, highlighting Simone’s sickness and their aversion to swimming or eating, later identified as early signs of methanol poisoning.
As their condition worsened, with Bethany fainting and Simone continuously vomiting, they sought medical help at a local hospital, initially misdiagnosed with food poisoning due to the lack of common food consumption. Later transferred to a private hospital, Simone’s health deteriorated rapidly, leading to her passing.
Bethany, still grappling with the emotional toll, has since advocated for increased awareness and preventative measures against methanol poisoning. She emphasized the need for better education and government intervention, citing successful campaigns in Australia as a model for proactive measures.
Recently, the Foreign Office expanded its list of countries at risk for methanol poisoning due to counterfeit alcohol concerns, adding Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia, and Uganda. Methanol poisoning occurs when the substance is illicitly added to drinks to increase volume and reduce costs, manifesting in symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and potential vision issues within 12 to 48 hours post-consumption.