Laos methanol poisoning survivor describes ‘kaleidoscopic light’ before going blind
A British man, who suffered from methanol poisoning while traveling in Laos, described moments before he lost his opinion.
Calum Macdonald was one of the series of tourists who sacrificed a mass methanol poisoning in Laos’s popular tourism center last year.
The group was drinking in a hostel they stayed, where free alcoholic beverages, thought to be stained with methanol, were presented to guests.
Six people in the group died, 23 -year -old Macdonald lost his opinion.
Methanol poisoning occurs in a wide range of places around the world in holiday villages, which are often popular with travelers. Normally, it is a type of alcohol found in cleaning products and fuel, but it is impossible to say whether an beverage is contaminated because it is unpleasant and only has a slight odor.
When Mr. Macdonald came to Vietnam the day after drinking in the hostel, he noticed problems with his views that he had confused with free whiskey without alcohols.
“I remember in my eyes and the point that I can’t see anything I have such a Kaleydoscopic, blind light,” he said. BBC Breakfast.
“[We agreed] It was strange, but we thought it was food poisoning, and the light I saw was a kind of sensitivity. “
However, when he and his friends arrived at their hotels in Vietnam, when they asked them to open the lights when they were already, something was wrong.
He said: “We were sitting in the hotel room, my friends and me and I said to them: ‘Why are we sitting in the dark? Someone should open light.’ ‘
He advised tourists to avoid accepting free drinks and souls in South East Asia: um I am sure that people will really enjoy in Southeast Asia. ”
Another British woman stayed in Simone White, and after her leaving Calum, she drank the Nana backpacker hostel.
The 28 -year -old lawyer from London was one of the victims who died after suffering from methanol poisoning.
Simone’s mother, Sue White, has been campaigning for more awareness about methanol poisoning risks since her daughter’s death.
After drinking in the hostel, two Danish women died. Mr. Macdonald knew the couple and said that the learning of their deaths changed their perspective on the blindness.
“I am part of the way [had] It was dealing with it, it was to bury my head in the sand.
He is currently working with the families of the other British people who died after the methanol poisoning in South East Asia and wants to be clearer about the dangers in the countries where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned.
He said: “[The deaths] It made me realize that I am very lucky, and although I had some difficult results, I am very grateful because many people are even worse.
“Considering that I am lucky enough to survive, I have some responsibility to prevent and prevent the same thing from being the other people.”
