The father of an Australian teenager killed by suspected methanol poisoning has now shared a heartbreaking tribute to his daughter.
19-year-old Bianca Jones was holidaying in Laos with her friend, Holly Bowles, when the two women took ill after consuming alcohol in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Jones would later pass away on Thursday (21 November), while Bowles would become the sixth person to die from the suspected poisoning a day later.
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Other casualties include 28-year-old British national Simone White, Danish friends Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, as well as US tourist James Louis Hutson, 57.
Meanwhile, the manager and owner of Nana Backpackers hostel, where several of the tourists taken ill were believed to have been staying, have since been detained by local authorities. The hostel is said to be still operating but no longer accepting new guests.
The 19-year-old's father, Mark Jones, has now shared a heartbreaking tribute to his young daughter, saying that she had been on 'the trip of a lifetime' with Bowles.
"This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many," the grieving father said in a statement.
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"Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good."
Jones then went on to make a direct plea to the government of Laos, urging them to not let his daughter's death be in vain.
"I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn’t happen again," he said (via The Age).
"Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe. We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain."
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An official statement released by the Laos government has since offered their 'deepest condolences' to the families of the six victims and promised to bring the perpetrators 'to justice'.
The parents of Simone White have also spoken publicly about the death of their daughter in a heartbreaking tribute.
"Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life." the statement said.
"She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.
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"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."
Topics: Alcohol, World News, Health, Australia, Parenting
Brenna Cooper