Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles did not leave their dorm room for 24 hours after a night out drinking in Vang Vieng, Laos.
The pair, who were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, reported feeling unwell last Wednesday and failed to check out as scheduled.
Nearly a week later, the Melbourne teenagers are believed to have fallen victim to suspected methanol poisoning.
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They remain on life support, with the two hospitals about eight hours apart, one in Bangkok and the other in Udon Thani.
Two other travellers died and at least a dozen people were reportedly hospitalised after also drinking the substance.
Nana Backpacker Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan told the Associated Press that staff were alerted by other guests that the teenagers were unwell when they failed to check out.
Staff arranged transport to a hospital for them, with 9News obtaining vision of the girls being taken one-by-one on a motorbike.
Toan said that two days earlier the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel.
He said no other guest reported any issue, adding that the teenagers had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.
They remained in their dorm room for the next 24 hours before seeking assistance.
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Vang Vieng is a tourist town particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.
Smartraveller has since changed advice for tourists travelling to Laos, writing “several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of suspected cases of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks”.
“Be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit based drinks including cocktails.”
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‘Dream getaway’ turns to horror
Bowles’ father, who is by her side in a hospital in Bangkok, told 9News he wanted to spend every moment he could with his daughter.
Vigils have taken plays in Melbourne’s Bayswater area as locals and people who knew the pair grapple with the horrific situation.
Jones’ family earlier issued a statement saying the two best friends had been on a “dream getaway”.
”They were filled with joy and had such incredible adventures ahead of them, travelling through Asia,” the statement read.
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“We are here by Bianca’s bedside praying for her. Please respect our privacy at this difficult time.”
Bowles, who had graduated from Beaumaris Secondary College just last year, had been spending her gap year travelling.
Her best friend, Jones, had recently graduated from Mentone Girls’ Grammar and started university this year.
The duo played for Beaumaris Football Club. Club president Nick Heath said many of their team-mates were “distraught”.
“These sort of situations you sort of just read about from time to time, you don’t ever expect to happen in your own circle,” he said.
“As a football club, we feel a little bit inadequate. A lot of our their team-mates are obviously quite rightly distraught.”
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Methanol is usually found in a range of products such as paint, fuel, and cosmetics, however, it is also sometimes illegally added to alcohol as a cheap substitute to ethanol.
Drinking even a small amount can be fatal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed consular assistance was being offered to two Australians and their families in Thailand.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” a spokesperson said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
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