Brit who survived methanol poisoning in Laos issues advice to travellers

Lucy Davidson stayed at the Nana Backpacker hostel in Laos last week, where six people died from methanol poisoning. A number of people were taken to hospital after the incident in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week.Police in Laos have detained the manager and owner of a hostel in connection with the death of six people from suspected methanol poisoning, including a British lawyer.Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, was among a number of people taken to hospital following the incident in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week.The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed her death on Thursday.Five others are currently known to have died, including two Australian teenagers, an American and two Danish tourists.The FCDO said it was in contact with the local authorities regarding the British nationals affected.Those poisoned in the incident are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used by disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death.