A TEENAGER is among four people who have died after drinking alcohol believed to be laced with methanol in Laos.
Six British tourists have also been rushed hospital after allegedly being served poisoned drinks in the South East Asian holiday hotspot.
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Bianca Jones, 19, was rushed to hospital on November 13 in neighbouring Thailand after falling ill in Vang Vieng - a town popular with foreign backpackers.
The teen, from Melbourne, Australia, died on Thursday.
A Thai police official told Reuters: "The physician who examined her said the cause of death was a methanol poisoning, from fake liquor.
"The amount of methanol in her body was high, leading to swelling of the brain."
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She was the fourth foreign tourist to die after drinking the contaminated alcohol, following two Danes and an American, according to Australian media.
Bianca's devastated family previously said that she was on a “dream getaway with her best friend Holly”.
They told the Aussie Herald Sun on Thursday: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away.
"She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted by the knowledge that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us.
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"We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we've received from across Australia."
Bianca's friend Holly Bowles, 19, has also been named as one of the victims and remains in hospital.
Two Danish women, aged in their 20s, reportedly died after the horror incident.
An unnamed US citizen, aged 56, also died in what is feared to be a mass poisoning.
Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, was hospitalised after it is feared she drank shots laced with methanol.
The associate lawyer was among those who were allegedly poisoned on Tuesday night last week.
Five other British tourists are among those being treated in hospital, according to reports.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday after Bianca's death: "This is every parent's worst fear and a nightmare no one should have to endure.
"All Australians offer them our deepest sympathy in this time of heartbreak."
He said Holly remains in critical condition.
"We also take this moment to say that were thinking of Biancas friend Holly Bowles who is fighting for her life," Albanese added.
Meanwhile, it is believed at least 12 others - most of whom were guests at the Nana Backpacker Hostel - remain seriously unwell.
It is not known where the contaminated drinks were sold.
Governments in Australia and Britain have previously warned travellers to be careful of alcoholic drinks in Laos.
Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide, and fuel source, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website.
Brit Simone's friend Bethany Clarke raised the alarm with an urgent warning on the Laos Backpacking Facebook group.
She wrote: “Urgent — please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars.
"Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”
Bethany added that she was “very fatigued and then fainted, then just felt nauseous and then my liver started to shut down”.
She continued: “I got to the private hospital in time but underwent many infusions and tablets and days of recovery.”
The hostel manager, Duong Duc Toan, confirmed more than 100 guests were plied with free shots of Lao Tiger vodka, mixed with ice and Coke Zero.
He said the alcohol was from a certified distributor and not tampered with by his staff.
“Right now the police [are telling] every hostel and hotel and bar to stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng," he told the Associated Press.
Toan told the Australian broadcaster ABC: “The police in Vang Vieng and [the capital] Vientiane already came to the hostel to check, the shop [where] we buy the vodka, check the shop [where] we buy the whisky.
“We don’t do anything wrong, for sure. I really take care of all of the customers [who] stay with our hotel and our hostel.”
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Laospolice have launched a probe into the alleged poisoning.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are providing consular assistance to British nationals and their families and are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Laos.”
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