Laos doctor who treated ‘methanol poisoning’ victim, 19, has told of how she went from confused to comatose in half an hour then died nine days later

A doctor who treated a teenage backpacker killed by poisoned alcohol in Laos has told how she fell into a coma from confusion within just half an hour.

Holly Bowles, 19, from Melbourne, Australia, died of suspected methanol poisoning while traveling on Friday, just one day after the death of her best friend Bianca Jones.

Dr. Yaher, from the district hospital in the city of Vang Vieng, was the first medical professional to treat Ms Bowles – one of six tourists who died after consuming liquor contaminated with the chemical methanol.

Ms Bowles died in hospital in Thailand on Friday, nine days after being taken to Dr Yaher’s emergency room, just meters from Nana Backpacker Hostel.

The youngster and her friend Ms Jones collapsed at the hostel after accepting free spirit injections two nights earlier.

The doctor described Mrs Bowles’ condition when she arrived at hospital, saying she had gone from a state of confusion to a coma within half an hour.

He told it The times: ‘She was confused and she was sleepy. We asked her what she had eaten or drunk, but she didn’t know what had happened.’

Dr. Yaher suspected the teen may have consumed too many cannabis-infused gummies, which are common among tourists on the “banana pancake route” they took.

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) also died in hospital on Thursday

After suffering a seizure and falling into a coma, Ms Bowles was initially taken by ambulance to Kasemrad International Hospital, before being rushed to Setthathirath Hospital in Vientiane.

She was then transferred to nearby Thailand for treatment.

Ms Bowles tragically lost her life there on November 22, just one day after 19-year-old Ms Jones and four others who had been staying at the hostel also died.

Mrs Bowles’ family said in a statement: ‘It is with broken hearts, and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace.

“We take comfort and comfort in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.

‘Holly lived her best life, traveling around Southeast Asia, meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.

‘As her parents, we were always so incredibly proud of everything Holly did. Holly was a great big sister to James and she always looked out for him.”

Mrs Bowles and Mrs Jones were on a gap year holiday when they both fell ill on November 12.

Simone White, 28, from Britain, is one of six tourists who died after falling ill last week

CCTV footage from the hostel shows one of the women being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorcycle driven by a hotel staff member

Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured) claimed it wasn’t his Tiger Vodka that made the tourists sick

The city is a popular spot for young backpackers, especially those on a gap year or in their early twenties

Staff became concerned after they failed to check out on November 13 and arranged to take the pair to hospital after they ‘calmly’ asked for help.

CCTV footage from the hostel shows one of the women being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorcycle driven by a hotel staff member.

Earlier on Thursday, the US State Department confirmed the death of a US citizen, a 56-year-old man, in Vang Vieng.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, also died, while the Danish Foreign Ministry confirmed that two young women from Denmark have also died.

Previously, the hostel’s manager, Duong Duc Toan, was detained by local police.

An officer from Vang Vieng’s tourist police, who declined to give his name, said Friday that a “number of people” had been arrested in the case but no charges had yet been filed.

Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.