I saw a kaleidoscopic light before going blind, says survivor of Laos methanol poisoning

Calum Macdonald was traveling through Laos with his friends when he experienced something terrifying. After a night at a hostel in Vang Vieng, where guests were offered free whisky and vodka shots, Calum began to see a kaleidoscopic, blinding light in his eyes. At first, he thought it was just food poisoning or some kind of sensitivity, but when he reached the Vietnamese border, he realized he could not read the forms in front of him. He told his friends about the strange lights, but they all thought it was nothing serious. However, when they arrived at their hotel in Vietnam, Calum asked why they were sitting in the dark, only to be told that the lights were already on. It was then clear that something was seriously wrong with his vision.

Calum, who is now 23, became blind due to methanol poisoning. He was one of several victims of a poisoning incident in Laos last November, which killed six people, including two Danish girls he had met. All the victims had stayed at the same hostel. Methanol is a type of alcohol found in cleaning products and fuel, and it is much more toxic than the alcohol used in drinks. Sometimes, poorly made spirits in South East Asia can be contaminated with methanol, and hundreds of people are poisoned every year. The symptoms of methanol poisoning can seem like a regular hangover at first, with dizziness, tiredness, and nausea, but after 12 to 48 hours, more serious problems like seizures and blindness can occur. As little as 30ml of methanol can be fatal, but if treated quickly, it is possible to survive.

Calum is now working with the families of other British victims to raise awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning. Simone White, another victim, died after drinking free shots at the same hostel. Her mother, Sue, received a message from Simone saying she was having the best holiday ever, but soon after, Simone was in a coma and did not survive. Kirsty McKie died in Bali after drinking contaminated alcohol at home with a friend, while Cheznye Emmons died in Sumatra after drinking gin with extremely high levels of methanol. Calum advises tourists to avoid free drinks and cheap spirits, and to choose beer instead. He feels grateful to have survived, even though he is now blind, and wants to help prevent others from suffering the same fate.

The Foreign Office has described methanol poisoning and counterfeit alcohol as a serious problem in some parts of the world and is working with local authorities and the travel industry to tackle the issue. Calum and the families of Simone, Kirsty, and Cheznye are determined to raise awareness and make sure travelers are warned about the risks. By sharing their stories, they hope to prevent more tragedies and encourage people to be cautious when drinking alcohol abroad.