The parents of a British lawyer who died after allegedly being served drinks laced with methanol in Laos have said they are “devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter”.
Simone White, 28, from Orpington, was one of several people taken to hospital after the incident in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week.
Police in Laos have detained the manager and owner of a hostel in connection with the death of Ms White and five others, who are also believed to have been poisoned.
Ms White, who went to Wilmington Grammar School for Girls in Dartford, was confirmed as a victim alongside an Australian teenager, an American and two Danish tourists.
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed they were supporting the woman’s family following her death.
In a statement, Ms White’s parents said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone.
“Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life.
“She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.
“Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family.
“Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy.”
Ms White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, whose work involved general commercial matters, and contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law issues, according to the firm’s website.
The FCDO also said it was providing consular assistance to British nationals hospitalised in the incident, as well as their families.
Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel – with staff being told that guests had fallen ill after they failed to check out on November 13.
The FCDO said it was in contact with the local authorities regarding the British nationals affected.
Those poisoned in the incident are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used by disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death.
An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office said no charges have been filed but a “number of people” have been detained in the case.