'I survived methanol poisoning that killed by best friend - more must be done to stop it'

A British backpacker who survived the mass methanol poisoning that killed her best friend is calling on the Government to do more to prevent further tragedies. Bethany Clarke and Simone White were enjoying a dream holiday in Laos last year when they unknowingly drank tainted vodka at a hostel. Within 48 hours, Simone was in a coma. After doctors broke the news that she had no chance of recovery, her mum made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support.

Lawyer Simone, 28, from Orpington in south-east London, was one of six tourists who died that week after consuming drinks offered free during a happy hour promotion. Bethany, also 28, told the Express: "I feel very lucky to have survived it but less lucky that I've lost my best friend when it was just so preventable.

"We just should have known that drinking spirits abroad was not the done thing, but we've done it for years. Simone was a very caring, bubbly person who always included people, always listened to you if you had a problem.

"She was extremely reliable and honest, she would always be straight with me. And she just had so much more to give."

The pair, who met in primary school aged four and five, had enjoyed a day tubing on a river last November before returning to their hostel in the riverside town of Vang Vieng, central Laos.

They shared a few drinks with friends before going to bed. The next morning, something was wrong. "We all woke up and just felt off - uncoordinated, not able to think clearly," Bethany said. "I explain it to people as like having dementia."

The friends tried to enjoy a kayaking experience. "We were both having to just lie down on the kayaks because we weren't strong enough to sit upright and paddle," Bethany added.

"We were just looking up at the sky and waiting for it to finish. Simone was being sick off her kayak at times, which I thought was a bit odd."

During a bus journey to their next destination, Simone was sick again and Bethany fainted and hit her head. They and another friend were taken to a public hospital where doctors eventually diagnosed food poisoning.

Bethany said: "They kept saying, 'Is it drugs?' And I kept saying, 'No, we haven't taken drugs unless something has worked its way into us'."

Their bodies were in fact fighting the effects of methanol poisoning. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol (CH3OH), is often used to make solvents, pesticides, paint thinners and alternative fuels.

Common products containing it include antifreeze, brake fluid and window cleaning solutions. It is sometimes used by disreputable sellers as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, the type of alcohol used in beverages.

The two are similar but methanol is toxic to humans. When broken down in the body it produces compounds including formic acid, formate and formaldehyde.

Formate can cause the pH of the body to drop, damaging organs and potentially leading to organ failure. Meanwhile, formaldehyde attacks the nerves - particularly the optic nerve, causing risk of blindness.

Bethany said: "About 24 hours after the drinks, Simone started gasping for air. She started treatment but they hadn't diagnosed us as having methanol poisoning...they hadn't run the right tests."

Their friend, who was also unwell, suggested moving to a private hospital. An ambulance transfer was arranged and the friend raised the possibility of methanol poisoning, which eventually led to the correct diagnosis.

At the second hospital, Simone started haemodialysis - a treatment that uses a machine to filter the blood.

Bethany said: "The following morning we woke up in the intensive care unit. Simone was still out of it and they said she'd been sedated so we just had to wait for her to wake up. But she never did."

Simone's brain was swelling dangerously and she underwent a craniotomy to relieve pressure on one side. Eventually, her mum Sue was told nothing more could be done.

Doctors initially said they would have to wait for her to die naturally but following an intervention from the British consulate Sue was allowed to turn off Simone's ventilator.

Bethany, who lives in Brisbane, Australia, now suspects she may have suffered methanol poisoning once before in Vietnam in 2017, when she became suddenly unwell and experienced a "starry-eyed sensation". Visual disturbances are a red flag symptom.

Determined to prevent similar cases by raising awareness, Bethany has successfully petitioned the Government to include mandatory education about methanol poisoning on the school curriculum from September 2026. She is working with other bereaved families to make a hard-hitting video that can be shown in schools.

Bethany has also launched a petition calling for posters to be displayed in UK airports and in-flight magazines to give travellers advice about the dangers, symptoms, and treatments for methanol poisoning.

She said: "Simone and I didn't do anything reckless. We trusted our hostel, just like thousands of other young travellers do every day. No one warned us. No one informed us that methanol posed a risk. That has to change."

Bethany also wants people to be aware that it can happen in many places. She added: "It has happened in five star hotels and reputable beach clubs, and I think people forget this doesn't just happen in Asia."

Simone was a keen charity fundraiser and volunteered on a domestic abuse helpline. Her mum Sue said: "I fully support the campaign and am very pleased that there is now so much more awareness of methanol poisoning.

"It's just a shame that it has taken tragedy to highlight what takes place in certain countries, but hopefully the awareness now will save some lives." You can sign Bethany's petition here.

• "Steer clear, drink beer" where possible, Bethany says. Beer is widely produced and regulated, so generally carries a lower risk. Its lower alcohol content also makes it easier to moderate intake.
• If you are going to drink spirits, consider buying a bottle of a good quality branded spirit at duty free to keep for emergencies. Ethanol can be used to treat methanol poisoning because it is a competitive inhibitor for the enzyme that breaks down both in the liver. This delays the onset of poisoning, buying time for the body to process methanol.
• Don't assume some locations are safer than others. Methanol poisoning has been reported in hotels, beach clubs and even with bottles bought from supermarkets.
• Be aware of red flag symptoms. Methanol poisoning can be hard to identify but red flags include visual disturbances such as blurred, tunnel or "snowfield" vision. Confusion, dizziness, tiredness and vomiting are also common.
• Have travel insurance documents printed out to avoid any delays when seeking care.
• Make sure you have a working phone. Relying on a friend's phone can leave you cut off if they become unwell or you are separated.
• Research the healthcare system and private hospitals in the area where you are staying.
• Report any suspected incidents so local authorities can investigate.