The parents of the British lawyer who died after drinking methanol dressed as vodka, paid tribute to their loving daughter.
Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from Orpington Kent, was one of six backpackers who died after drinking shots contaminated with a toxic substance while travelling in Laos.
She died on Thursday after falling ill from the free drinks, while two Australian teens, two Danes and an American tourist also perished after drinking suspected methanol-laced booze.
READ MORE: Brit backpackers issued Laos travel advice update after mass ‘vodka’ poisoning kills six
READ MORE: Teen becomes sixth person to die in Laos mass ‘vodka’ poisoning that killed Brit
In a statement issued by her employers, Simone White’s parents said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone.
(Image: PA)
“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.”
(Image: Getty Images)
The fatal drinks were served to guests at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in the popular party town of Vang Vienna. Holly Bowles, a 19-year-old from Australia, was the sixth fatality of the horrific incident, dying in hospital in Bangkok surrounded boxy her family.
Holly was travelling with her best friend Bianca Jones, also 19, who also died in hospital a day earlier.
Simone’s friend Bethany Clarke rang the alarm bell, issuing a desperate warning on there Laos Backpacking Facebook group.
She wrote: “Urgent — please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
“Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”
Bethany said after she drank the shots, she felt very fatigued before fainting. Then she felt nauseous before her liver started to shut down.
The hostel manager, Duong Duc Toan, confirmed over 100 guests were given free shots of Lao Tiger vodka, mixed with ice and Coke Zero. He said the booze was from a certified distributor and hadn’t been tampered with by staff.
Every hostel, hotel and bar in the river-side town have stopped serving alcohol, under police orders.
The British Government has since updated its travel advice for Laos. It now warns Brits to be vigilant when buying drinks in the country.
The advice reads: “There have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol. Methanol has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of well-known alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, like vodka. You should take care if offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks. If labels, smell or taste seem wrong then do not drink.”
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