He has urged the Laos government to take action
The dad of an Australian teenager killed by suspected methanol poisoning has shared a heart-breaking tribute to his daughter.
19-year-old Bianca Jones was holidaying in Laos with her friend Holly Bowles when the pair took ill after consuming alcohol in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Jones became the fourth victim when she passed away on Thursday 21 November, while Bowles passed away the following day, becoming the sixth person to die from the suspected poisoning.
A 28-year-old British national, Simone White, also passed away alongside Danish friends Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen,21, as well as US tourist James Louis Hutson, 57.
The manager and owner of Nana Backpackers hostel where several of the tourists were believed to have been staying, have now been detained by local authorities.
Jones’ 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 her friend.
In a statement he said: “This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many.
“Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.”
He then made a direct appeal to the government of Laos, urging them to not let his daughter’s death be in vain.
He said: “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.
“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.”
The government have previously offered their ‘deepest condolences’ to the families of the six victims and promised to bring the perpetrators ‘to justice’.
Simone White’s parents have also spoken publicly about what happened to their daughter.
They said: “Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life.
“She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues.
“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.”
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