Two teenage girls from Melbourne are reportedly fighting for their lives in Thai hospitals after drinking tainted cocktails in Laos.
The young women, both believed to be 19, were staying at a backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng, a popular party town north of the capital Vientiane.
According to the owner of the Nana Hostel, they had been out drinking at a nearby bar last Tuesday night and, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, were taken to hospital after falling ill.
A doctor from Vang Vieng hospital told the ABC the women arrived at about 2:30am, local time, on November 13.
“When they arrived, they looked drunk, tired and were breathing heavily but they still could communicate and move around,” he said.
He added one of the women felt dizzy, tight in the chest and was having trouble breathing.
“The doctor gave her IV fluid. She later had a seizure and then went into a coma. The doctor intubated her and they were both sent to Setthatirat hospital in Vientiane.”
Laos’s Vang Vieng is a popular party town north of the capital Vientiane. (Reuters: K Yoganand/WWF)
It is believed they were then transferred to two separate hospitals in Thailand — one in Bangkok and the other in Udon Thani, in the country’s north-east.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government was providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” he said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
It is understood at least two people have died and at least 10 have fallen ill after drinking the tainted alcohol.
Other travellers have posted warnings on social media about possible methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng.
“Urgent — please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it. 6 of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning,” one user posted.
Others suggested the girls had consumed the suspect drinks at the hostel they were staying at but the owner, Duong van Huan, denied this.
“A lot of people are writing it happened in our hostel but no,” he told the ABC.
“This has never happened at the hostel. My business takes care of everyone. We never do anything wrong.
“I’m not sure what happened but at the hostel we only sell drinks, whiskey, cocktails and police have already checked everything.
“All of the alcohol we have is safe. In eight years, this has never happened.”
The ABC has been unable to confirm with police in Laos whether they are investigating the incident.
The tragedy comes months after six people died in Bangkok and a further 31 were hospitalised after drinking a local liquor spiked with methanol.
Methanol is a clear liquid chemical that is often deliberately and illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol. Consuming even a small amount can be fatal.