For Bianca Jones, what was supposed to be “the trip of a lifetime” took a dramatic turn. This 19-year-old Australian woman, who died on Thursday in a Bangkok hospital, is one of six tourists who died after poisoning with alcohol adulterated with methanol in Laos.
His father, Mark Jones, spoke to reporters outside the hospital on Saturday to call on Laotian authorities to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.
“Our daughter was taking the trip of a lifetime with one of her best friends. This trip would be full of unforgettable memories and would be the first of many as Bianca wanted to explore the world and meet new friends,” Mark said. Jones, quoted by ABC
Mark Jones thanked the Australian government for its support and everyone who paid tribute to his daughter. He also sent his condolences to the other families of the victims, particularly that of Holly Bowles, Bianca Jones’ best friend, who died on Friday. She was also 19 years old.
The other victims are two Danes, an English woman and an American. According to several media, they died after consuming alcohol in Vang Vieng, a town in Laos located north of the capital Vientiane.
“That these types of incidents do not happen again”
Mark Jones urged the Lao government to conduct a thorough investigation “to ensure this type of incident does not happen again.” ““We will always miss our beautiful daughter and hope that her loss was not in vain,” he added.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Laotian government declared itself “deeply saddened by the death of the foreign tourists”, expressed its “sincere solidarity” and offered its “condolences to the families of the deceased.” He said an investigation was underway “to determine the causes of the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The Vietnamese director of the Nana Backpackers youth hostel in Vang Vieng, where Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles were staying, was arrested, the Laos tourist police told AFP on Saturday.
Source: BFM TV
