‘I knew she was going to die,’ admits mother of lawyer killed in Laos poisoning following call from daughter’s friend

2 December 2024, 07:36

Parents of British lawyer killed in Laos 'mass methanol poisoning' pay tribute to 'kind and loving daughter'
Parents of British lawyer killed in Laos 'mass methanol poisoning' pay tribute to 'kind and loving daughter'. Picture: Instagram

By Danielle de Wolfe

The mother of a British lawyer who died while on holiday in Laos following a 'mass methanol poising' has recalled the 'horrendous' journey to her daughter’s bedside.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speaking following the tragic death of her daughter, Sue White has recounted the heartbreaking call that revealed Simone White, 28, was in a critical condition after drinking contaminated vodka.

“I knew when I had that phone call — I don’t know what it was, call it a mother’s intuition — but I knew that she was going to die,” she revealed.

The heart-wrenching call with her daughter's friend led to the mother's arduous 16-hour journey to be by her daughter's bedside from London Heathrow.

Ms White revealed she arrived at the hospital just as her daughter was being taken in for surgery, when it became clear the 28-year-old's brain function was non-existent.

She died on Thursday 21 November.

Parents of British lawyer killed in Laos 'mass methanol poisoning' pay tribute to 'loving daughter'
Parents of British lawyer killed in Laos 'mass methanol poisoning' pay tribute to 'loving daughter'. Picture: Family handout

Speaking with The Times on Sunday, Ms White warned others travelling to southeast Asia to be careful when accepting drinks, explaining: “Please be careful when it comes to drinks.

"Simone was a university-educated, highly intelligent person. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anybody.”

Sue, 61, a travel agent from Orpington, took a Saturday flight to Bangkok after discovering her daughter's condition.

Read more: Mother recounts horror 16-hour journey to reach dying daughter after mass methanol poisoning in Laos

Read more: Sixth person dies in Laos ‘methanol mass poisoning’ as hostel owner detained by police

Speaking publicly for the first time since the tragedy, the mother recounted the moment she discovered her daughter was suffering from suspected acidosis.

The three friends woke up with headaches after ingesting the shots, but did not suspect anything out-of-the-ordinary.

It wasn't until the solicitor began vomiting that the trio decided to take a taxi to the public hospital.

The three then travelled on to a private medical facility in Vientiane, the country’s capital, shortly after.

Backpacker foreign tourists roam around in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Backpacker foreign tourists roam around in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath). Picture: Alamy

At the time, Ms White's friend told the mother: “Simone is the worst affected out of all of us but she’s not doing too badly. Keep you updated.”

Simone and her friends drank six vodka shots served by the hostel on the night of her death.

The shots are said to have been mixed with Sprite bought from a nearby supermarket.

Nine days after drinking the contaminated vodka, her ventilator at a private hospital located in Laos, was switched off by her mother.

Police in Laos have detained several people in connection with the death of Ms White and five others, who are also believed to have been poisoned.

Officials in Laos have released almost no details about the case, with the government keeping a tight lid on information.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Tommy Robinson pictured last year

Tommy Robinson in bid for freedom with appeal against contempt of court jail sentence after libelling teen refugee

Layla Allen died at the scene

'Cherished beyond words': Family pay tribute to 'shining light' 13-year-old killed in Merseyside house fire

Breaking
Russell Brand

Russell Brand breaks silence after actor and comedian charged with rape and sexual assaults

White House weighs in to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

White House looking to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs charged with two further counts of sex trafficking

XL Bully (FILE)

XL Bully on the loose after drive-by shooting in Sheffield as police issue urgent safety warning

Peter Serafinowicz and Sarah Alexander have split.

Amandaland star and comedian Peter Serafinowicz splits from actress wife after 23 years

Russel Brand

Comedian and actor Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assaults

Prison nurse, 27, suspended over 'fling with drug-dealing killer' in England's worst jail

Prison nurse, 27, suspended over 'fling with drug-dealing killer' in England's worst jail

This image provided by NASA shows Nick Hague, right, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore. (NASA via AP)

Stranded NASA astronauts reveal they were almost trapped in space 'forever' after horror malfunction

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen'

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen' after far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement in 'witch hunt'

At a hearing on Friday, Mr Justice Jay was asked to decide the "natural and ordinary" meaning of the statements ahead of a potential trial.

Chris Eubank Jr brands boxing promoter Frank Warren a 'scumbag' - as judge urges pair to 'mediate' ahead of trial

Tunnocks Tea Cakes cleared for RAF use.

Tunnock's Tea Cakes pass RAF test after being banned for 60 years

Joanne Sharkey pictured outside court

Woman who suffocated her newborn baby and left his body in woods in 1998 avoids prison

China will impose a 34% retaliatory tariff on imports from the US

China announces additional 34% tariffs on US imports in retaliation over Trump's 'Liberation Day' levies

'NHS dentistry is broken', says MP.

'NHS dentistry is broken': Plan to boost service has ‘resulted in worsening the picture’, say MPs