- British man Calum Macdonald has spoken out about losing his sight after suffering methanol poisoning while travelling in Laos in 2024, saying he experienced a “kaleidoscopic, blinding light”.
- Mr Macdonald was one of several tourists who fell victim to methanol poisoning after consuming free alcoholic drinks at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Van Vieng. Six people in the group died.
- He said he felt “my life wasn't worth living” after the poisoning and is advising tourists to avoid drinking free spirits.
- Methanol, often found in cleaning products, is tasteless and nearly odourless, making contaminated drinks very hard to detect.
- Mr Macdonald is now campaigning with other victims' families for the Foreign Office to issue clearer warnings about methanol poisoning risks in South East Asia.
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