Laos drink-spiking: ANOTHER tourist death confirmed after suspected methanol poisoning as total rises to six

Another tourist has died from a suspected case of methanol poisoning from “toxic shots” in a holiday resort in Laos.

Australian Holly Bowles, 19, had been left on life support in hospital in Bangkok after the suspected spiking – but a family statement on Friday confirmed she has died.

“It is with broken hearts and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace,” Bowles’s family said.

“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly bought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”

Her friend Bianca Jones, 19, British woman Simone White, 28, two Danish teenagers and an American man have also died in the mass poisoning, the countries’ foreign offices and ministries have said.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen others are thought to have fallen ill after the poisoning.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also released a statement on Friday, which read: “This should have been a trip filled with joy and wonderful memories – it is beyond sad that it is not to be.

“My thoughts and my deepest sympathies are with her family and her friends. I am sure all Australians are thinking of Holly and her best friend Bianca Jones who tragically passed away yesterday.”

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Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.

Laotian police have detained the manager and owner of the hostel in Vang Vieng where the six guests were thought to be poisoned.

Duong Duc Toan, the manager, said before his detention that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka on the night in question before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning.

While New Zealander Neil Farmiloe, who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in the town and has lived there for two decades, said many of his customers were left worried about the incident.