Major development as cops swoop on Laos hostel where two Aussie tourists ‘drank poisoned alcohol’ – as search for answers heats up after tragic death of 19-year-old Melbourne woman

Police have raided the hostel where Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones was staying the night she ingested a fatal amount of methanol alcohol in Laos.

Ms Jones died on Thursday surrounded by loved ones, nine days after she and her best friend Holly Bowles, both 19, were put on life support in separate Thai hospitals on November 12.

The pair were staying at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in the party town of Vang Vieng, 196km from the Thai border, where the pair had been drinking the night before falling ill.

Laos police have stepped up their investigation into an alleged mass poisoning in the city after 14 tourists rushed to hospital after ingesting toxic amounts of methanol.

The US State Department previously confirmed the death of a 56-year-old American man and the Danish Foreign Ministry said two young women from Denmark had also died in Vang Vieng in recent days.

Ms Bowles remains in a critical condition in the Thai hospital in Bangkok.

Following news of Ms Jones’ death, local police went to Nana Backpackers to question staff working in the hostel’s bar.

Police demanded to see what spirits were used by bar staff on the night Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were given free cocktails. The Herald Sun reported.

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones (pictured) died in hospital after drinking poisoned alcohol during the trip of a lifetime with her best friend Holly Bowles in Laos

Laos police spoke to employees and inspected liquor bottles in the bar during their visit to the hostel.

Detectives took detailed notes as they lined up bottles of Smirnoff vodka, Havana Club rum and Bombay Sapphire and Gordon’s gin.

Hostel manager Duong Duc Toan and bartender Toan Van Vanng had previously denied that the alcohol was contaminated or diluted with methanol.

Toan said he purchased the alcohol from a certified distributor and free shots of Tiger Vodka were served to about 100 guests.

The manager said he had not yet received any complaints from other backpackers who had received injections that night.

To prove his point, he even drank from one of the vodka bottles in use that night to prove it was safe.

‘Right now the police [are telling] every hostel, hotel and bar must stop selling drinks in Vang Vieng,” he told the Associated Press.

Holly Bowles (left) and Mrs Jones (right). Holly, 19, is still fighting for her life in a Thai hospital

The girls had booked a four-night stay at the Nana Backpackers Hostel in the party town of Vang Vieng, where they had several complimentary cocktails the night before they got sick

Toan said Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were at the bar from 8pm to 10.30pm and had three drinks each during that time.

He poured them a Lao Pdr Tiger Vodka with 40 percent alcohol and mixed it with ice and Coke Zero.

The girl’s WhatsApp messages showed that they went to Jaidee’s Bar later in the evening after leaving the hostel.

Jaidee’s Bar is known to offer customers free local whiskey shots and has a paper drug menu where opium, ketamine and marijuana are openly sold.

There is no evidence that Ms Bowles or Ms Jones used illegal drugs.

Nana Backpackers has been deserted since news of the poisonings spread ‘like wildfire’ through the city this week.

Six British women were also among those who took methanol, and one of them, Bethany Clarke said her liver ‘started shutting down’.

“I reached the private hospital on time but underwent many IVs and tablets and days of recovery,” she wrote in a social media post after her condition improved.

“Six of us who drank in the same place are currently in hospital with methanol poisoning.”

Ms Clarke’s friend Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer, is recovering in hospital.

The New Zealand government confirmed that a New Zealander is among the sick and ‘possibly a victim of methanol poisoning in Laos’.

Ms Darm remains on a ventilator in a critical condition in Bangkok hospital, her father told reporters on Wednesday

Simone White, from Britain, is also reportedly among those affected by the suspected mass poisoning and is recovering in hospital

Mrs Jones’ devastated family confirmed her death in a statement.

“It is with the deepest of our hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away,” they said.

“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.

“We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love and prayers we have received from across Australia.

“The kindness shown to our family during this unimaginable time is truly humbling. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate our grief and begin to heal. Thank you for respecting our family’s space.

‘With sincere appreciation, Mark, Michelle and Lachlan Jones.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ms Jones in parliament on Thursday.

“We have received very sad confirmation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that Bianca Jones has tragically lost her life,” he said.

“Our first thoughts at this time are with her family and friends as they mourn a terrible and cruel loss. This is every parent’s worst fear, and a nightmare no one should have to endure.

“All Australians offer our deepest condolences to them at this time of heartbreak. Bianca’s journey should have been a joyful time and a source of fond memories for years to come.

‘Memories that she should have carried with her into the long, bright future that lay ahead of her. It’s beyond sad that this won’t be the case.’

WhatsApp messages revealed Ms Jones and Ms Bowles ventured to Jaidee’s beachside bar (pictured) after leaving the hostel around 10.30pm

Jaidee’s Bar is a notorious party venue in the city, where customers are given a paper drug menu. There is no evidence that Ms. Jones or Ms. Bowles used illegal substances.

Albanese also mentioned Mrs. Bowles, “who is fighting for her life out there in Laos.”

“Australians hold her and her family in our hearts as we pray for her and hope for a speedy recovery.”

Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, also aged 19, had booked a four-night stay at the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they had been drinking and playing cards at the bar on the night they were poisoned, before allegedly heading to the nearby party bar Jaidee went.

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 girls being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorcycle driven by a hotel staff member.

They were then rushed to separate hospitals in Udon Thani and Bangkok in neighboring Thailand.

Ms Jones’ family previously said they hoped police would get to the bottom of the alleged alcohol poisoning.

“Our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support coming from across Australia,” they said on Wednesday.

‘This is every parent’s nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the pain we are going through.

“We hope that the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible.”