Bianca Jones’ father breaks his silence after his daughter and her friend were poisoned to death while holidaying in Laos – as disturbing details emerge about their deadly drinks

The father of a Melbourne teenager who died of suspected methanol poisoning from drinks served in Laos said his daughter was a victim of her ‘lust for life and adventure’ whose life had been ‘cruelly cut short’.

Bianca Jones and her friend Holly Bowles, both aged 19, fell ill after partying in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng with Ms Jones dying in hospital on Thursday, and Ms Bowles on Friday.

Mark Jones, the father of Bianca, said his daughter ‘was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates’.

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‘This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many,’ Mr Jones said.

‘Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.’

His comment comes after disturbing details emerged about the brand of vodka the women are believed to have drunk and how cheap and popular it is.

Bianca and Holly had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel with staff denying they added methanol to the drinks – raising speculation the alcohol could have been accidentally spiked as a result of a production error.
‘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,’ he told The Age.

‘We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others.

The Laos government on Saturday publicly acknowledged the tragedy for the first time, saying it was ‘profoundly saddened’.

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‘The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find the causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,’ a statement said.

‘The [government] reaffirms that it always attaches importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.’

Tiger Vodka can be bought in Vang Vieng from a retail store in a 700ml bottle for as little as 70 cents.

Bars could buy the spirits, which are ‘blended, bottled and distilled in Lao’, for even.