My Daughter Died in Mass Poisoning in Laos – Here is Her Final Text to Me
A mother shares her daughter’s last message before a tragic poisoning incident in Laos
Laos, Vang Vieng, Simone White, Methanol Poisoning, Travel Safety
Vang Vieng: A British lawyer’s mother shared her daughter’s last text. Simone White, 28, was in Laos when she drank methanol-contaminated shots. She felt sick and was rushed to the hospital.
While her friends recovered, Simone sadly passed away on November 21. Her mother, Sue, traveled 16 hours from Kent to be with her. Simone needed urgent brain surgery and was on life support for three days.
When Sue arrived, doctors left a tough choice to her. She had to decide whether to continue life support. It was a heartbreaking moment for her to remove the tube from Simone’s mouth and turn off the machine.
Last month, an inquest revealed Simone died from a brain hemorrhage. Three months later, Sue shared the last text from her daughter. Just a day before the tragedy, Simone texted, “I’m having the best time, you know, it’s an absolutely fantastic holiday.”
Simone’s friend, Bethany Clarke, also got sick from the same shots. She described feeling paralyzed and fainting after drinking. Tragically, Simone was one of several who lost their lives due to the poisoning.
After the incident, Bethany warned others to avoid free shots. She said, “Just avoid them as they are not worth it.” The UK Foreign Office advises travelers to be cautious about accepting drinks from strangers.
They warn that methanol can be found in counterfeit alcohol. Laos authorities have banned certain brands due to health risks. Travelers should be careful with any drinks that seem off.