Mum of Laos booze poisoning victim Simone White pays tribute to ‘popular, fun-loving’ daughter
THE mum of Laos booze poisoning victim Simone White yesterday paid tribute to her “popular, fun-loving” daughter.
Sue White said the hostel her lawyer daughter was staying at offered free whisky or vodka shots for two hours every night.
Simone and two pals had six each.
The next day, they took themselves to hospital after falling ill.
Mum-of-two Sue said the three Brits were “dismissed” by medics, who told them they were suffering food poisoning, so an ambulance to a private facility was arranged.
Travel agent Sue continued: “They had to wait an hour for the ambulance and by the time they got there, Simone was delirious and had trouble breathing.
“I think, basically, it had already affected her brain.”
The investigation continued yesterday into the deaths of Simone and five other backpackers after drinks were allegedly laced with methanol at the Nana backpackers hostel in Vang Vieng.
Sue said: “They had six shots each but they watered it down with Sprite.
“They didn’t really think anything of it.”
At home in Orpington, South East London, she told The Sun: “Simone was such a popular, fun-loving girl, who was hugely well thought of.
“What’s happened is absolutely tragic, she had everything going for her.
“We’re absolutely devastated.
“You never dream that your 28-year-old daughter is going to be taken from you.”
One shot is deadly
METHANOL is a super- toxic alcohol used in products like antifreeze.
It can be illegally added to make drinks stronger or be produced if they are brewed or distilled badly.
Just a shot of contaminated booze can kill, with 4ml of methanol enough to cause blindness.
Poisoning symptoms include vomiting, seizures and dizziness. A key way of treating a victim is to get them drunk with normal alcohol as it distracts the liver and stops it processing the methanol.