Holidaymakers on Thai island ‘killed by toxic cocktails’
The deaths in Thailand of two Canadian sisters is being blamed on a toxic reaction to a cocktail drink that contained the insect repellent DEET, according to one unconfirmed report.
Results of the post-mortem at a Bangkok hospital have not been publicly released, but CBC’s French-language news network claims to have seen the results.
According to the CBC report, quoted in the Thai media, 20-year-old Audrey and Noemi Belanger, 25, from Quebec, had DEET in their bodies that they had ingested.
The chemical is a mosquito repellent, but is reported to be an ingredient in a euphoria-inducing cocktail that is popular among youth in Thailand.
The sisters had just arrived on the Thai island of Phi Phi and were last seen partying with two Brazilian friends in the early hours of June 13.
They were found dead in their room 48 hours later and it was speculated that poisoning, probably accidental, played a role. Police said they found no signs of foul play.
Another post-mortem is taking place in Montreal.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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