Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, who are currently on life support in Thailand, were reportedly on a trip to Laos when they got sick due to a suspected case of methanol poisoning.
According to a report by the Herald Sun, they were friends from high school in Melbourne’s south-east.
They reportedly fell ill while staying at a hostel in Vang Vieng. They reportedly told the hostel’s staff that they felt ill.
It’s believed that they may have consumed a beverage that contained methanol, which can cause severe and deadly effects if consumed in large quantities.
Their condition is currently being monitored at two different hospitals in Udan Thani and Bangkok.
Their families have flown to Thailand to be with them. Amanda Rishworth, the Minister for Social Services, described the situation as the worst nightmare of a parent during an interview on The Today Show.
She said it was an absolute nightmare for parents to hear the news about their children. The government is providing all the necessary support to the family.
The situation is reportedly very difficult, and the girls’ friends are also being supported by the government.
During the interview, Senator Bridge McKenzie, from the Nationals, echoed the minister’s sentiments. She said that Australians should be aware of the environment’s differences when traveling overseas.
Senator McKenzie said that it was an awful experience for parents to hear about their children’s condition. She noted that in developed countries, such as Australia, strict environmental regulations can prevent such incidents from happening.
However, in other countries, such as Thailand, there are no regulations in place. This situation should serve as a warning to travelers.
On Tuesday, Forensic Pathologist David Ranson spoke to The Today Show about the dangerous effects of drinking alcohol that has traces of methanol.
He said that drinking a beverage that has a high concentration of this substance can cause severe and deadly consequences.
He noted that drinking a contaminated beverage can cause severe and deadly effects, such as blindness and kidney damage. Even after a person has recovered, these can still be permanent.