"Every parent's nightmare": Families of poisoned teens share update
The families of Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones have shared a heartbreaking update as the teenagers continue to fight for their lives after being poisoned in Laos.
While travelling around south-east Asia on a gap year, the Melbourne 19 year olds consumed what is believed to be methanol-laced drinks in Laos.
The young women were found barely alive in their hotel room and were rushed to a hospital in the neighbouring country of Thailand, where they remain on life support.
Holly’s dad Shaun Bowles fronted the media on Wednesday in Bangkok where he confirmed his daughter remained in the ICU in a critical condition, where the family are spending as much time as possible by her bedside.
“Right now our daughter remains in the intensive care unit in a critical condition. She’s on life support,” Shaun said.
“We’d just like to thank everyone from back home for all the support and love that we’re receiving but we’d also like for people to appreciate right now we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly.”
Bianca's family also released a statement saying there was no update on her condition, but confirmed that she remains on life support.
"Our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support that have come from across Australia," the statement from the family reads.
"This is every parent's nightmare and we want to ensure no other family is forced to endure the anguish we are going through. We hope the authorities can get to the bottom of what happened as soon as possible."
Authorities suspect the girls drank poisoned cocktails which reportedly had shots of "vodka" while holidaying in the party town of Vang Vieng, a popular tourist area about 130km north of Laos capital, Vientiane.
They were among a large group of international travellers who fell victim to what is feared to be a mass poisoning which has already killed two other people.
Editor's note: Police in Thailand confirmed the death of Bianca Jones on Thursday afternoon. Holly Bowles is understood to still be in hospital.
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