Survivor of Methanol Poisoning Shares Harrowing Experience to Raise Awareness**

As Calum Macdonald describes his traumatic experience with methanol poisoning in Laos, he and other victims' families urge increased awareness and precaution for travelers regarding the risks associated with contaminated alcohol.**

When Calum Macdonald reached the Vietnamese border, he was unable to fill out the required forms; all he could see was a “kaleidoscopic blinding light.” Fresh off an overnight bus from Vang Vieng in Laos, a popular tourist area, Calum had been mixing free whisky and vodka shots offered at a hostel with soft drinks just the day before. It wasn’t until at the border that he began to suspect something might be wrong with his vision, a concern he voiced to his friends.

Once in their hotel room, Calum expressed confusion about why they were sitting in darkness, only to realize the lights were on. Tragically, at 23 years of age, Calum is now blind, one of several victims impacted by a mass methanol poisoning incident in Vang Vieng last November, where six people died, including two Danish girls he met that night.

Calum is actively working alongside the families of three other British victims, advocating for the Foreign Office to make clearer the risks that travelers face concerning methanol poisoning in Southeast Asian countries. One of these victims was Simone White. She had sent her mother a text the day after Calum’s departure, ecstatic about the best vacation ever. Soon after, she was admitted to the hospital, eventually succumbing to her injuries from the poisoning.

Methanol, prevalent in cleaning and fuel products, is a highly toxic alcohol that can contaminate poorly manufactured spirits. Contaminated alcoholic drinks are a notorious issue across Southeast Asia, where many suffer poisoning each year. Symptoms, such as dizziness and headaches, often resemble typical hangovers, complicating the recognition of serious poisoning until it’s too late. Without prompt treatment, which includes dialysis, methanol poisoning can result in severe complications, including total blindness or death.

Kirsty McKie, a 38-year-old who tragically died in 2022, and Cheznye Emmons, who passed after consuming gin with unspeakable levels of methanol, all underscore the urgency of this issue. Families of these victims stress that understanding the dangers of free drinks while traveling could save lives.

Calum’s advice to prospective travelers emphasizes avoiding free drinks and opting for regional beers instead. While grappling with the severity of his own blindness, Calum feels a profound responsibility to share his story to help prevent others from facing similar fates.

The Foreign Office has acknowledged the seriousness of methanol poisoning and counterfeit alcohol, promising collaboration with local authorities and the tourism industry to enhance traveler safety and underscore risks through various advisories.