Two teenagers from Melbourne are on life support in south-east Asia suffering suspected methanol poisoning after a drink-spiking incident, 9News understands.
The women, who are believed to be aged about 19, have been travelling with a group of people in Laos.
They graduated from Mentone Girls Grammar and Beaumaris Secondary College in Melbourne’s Bayside suburbs last year.
It’s understood two other travellers have died and at least a dozen people have been hospitalised after drinking the tainted alcohol.
9News has been told the Melbourne teens informed staff at the Nana Backpackers that they were feeling unwell.
They asked to be taken to hospital then their conditions began to rapidly decline.
9News understands girls had been to a number of bars while staying in Laos.
Methanol is a clear liquid chemical used in thousands of everyday products, including plastics, paints, cosmetics, and fuels.
It’s often deliberately and illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, according to the Methanol Institute.
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Drinking just 25-90ml of methanol can be fatal.
Travellers have begun to post on social media to warn others about the incident.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said they were “providing consular assistance” to two Australians and their families in Thailand.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” a spokesperson said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
