Brit backpacker had ‘lucky escape’ after cancelling stay at poison drink hostel

A British backpacker is ‘lucky to be alive’ after she booked to stay at the hostel where six people have been killed from ‘alcohol poisoning’ but decided to cancel at the last minute.

Tasha Moore, 22, from Manchester was set to stay at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the popular tourist spot of Vang Vieng in Laos, before cancelling her stay the day before.

The hostel – which was still operating but not accepting new guests – has today confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.

Simone White, 28, a lawyer from Orpington in Kent, also died at the same hostel, but Tasha said she changed her plans at the last minute in a decision that she says ‘could have saved my life.’

The content creator called for more regulation of hostels in southeast east Asia dishing out free shots of cheaply made alcohol.

She told Metro from Laos: ‘I was booked in but changed my plans at the last minute it was a decision that could have saved my life.

‘When I heard what had happened I couldn’t believe it. I could have been there that night and become one of the victims.

‘There needs to be more done to regulate the alcohol. They give away these free shots everywhere in south east Asia, it’s not right.

‘My family were obviously worried and I know I have had a lucky escape. Those poor people were just having a good time it’s heartbreaking.’

Two Australian teenagers, an American, and two Danish tourists aged 19 and 20 have also died after the incident the town particularly popular among backpackers in search of partying and adventure sports.

Simone’s family today paid tribute to their ‘brilliant’ daughter and said they had faced a ‘horrific’ few days.

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, told parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones, from Melbourne, died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng for treatment in a Thai hospital.

Thai authorities said Jones died from ‘brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system’.

The death of her friend Holly Bowles, also 19, was confirmed by her father today, and they too had been staying at the same hostel in Vang Vieng.

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