British survivor of Laos methanol poisoning speaks out after watching friend die
Bethany Clarke’s dream backpacking trip turned into a nightmare when seemingly harmless free shots proved to be poison

It was November 12, 2024. The next morning, Clarke and her two companions – childhood friend Simone White and a male friend – set out early for a kayaking trip they had planned the day before. But instead of excitement, Clarke felt unusually drained.
“I just felt sick and we were lying flat on our backs in the kayaks looking at the sky. My brain wasn’t functioning. I didn’t feel like it was a hangover, but I couldn’t work out why. It didn’t make sense,” Clarke told This Week in Asia.

On the way, Clarke’s male friend searched online for answers and found a possible cause: methanol – a form of alcohol that is highly toxic to humans, often found in bootleg or poorly distilled spirits. Just 25ml (0.8oz) – the size of a single shot – can be fatal.