British couple dies from methanol poisoning in Vietnam
Greta Otteson and Arno Els died from methanol poisoning after consuming contaminated limoncello in Vietnam. The restaurant served homemade alcohol, which can contain deadly levels of methanol.
A British woman and her fiancé tragically died from methanol poisoning after consuming contaminated limoncello in Vietnam, police have confirmed.
Greta Otteson, 33, and her partner Arno Els, 36, were discovered dead on Boxing Day at the hotel they had been running for ten months.
The couple is believed to have purchased two bottles of "homemade" limoncello on Christmas Eve from a nearby restaurant.
On Christmas Day, Ms Otteson described to her mother via WhatsApp that they were experiencing what she called "the worst hangover ever."
A friend advised them to go to hospital, but they opted to try to sleep off their symptoms.
The following morning, staff at the Hoi An Silverbell Villa found both Ms Otteson and Mr Els deceased.
Detectives confirmed over the weekend that the couple died from methanol poisoning.
Methanol, which is undetectable in taste, can be present in illicit or homemade alcoholic drinks. Just a small amount can lead to deadly consequences, as the body converts it into a highly destructive acid that leads to organ failure.
The restaurant from which they ordered the bottles offers a shot of the yellow, sweet and citrus-flavoured liqueur for $5.50.
Ms Otteson's parents are currently in discussions with Vietnamese police and the British Foreign Office regarding legal action against the restaurant.
This tragedy follows just five weeks after British lawyer Simone White, 28, died in neighbouring Laos from methanol poisoning due to contaminated vodka shots.
In a statement, Ms Otteson's parents, Susan and Paul, expressed their grief to the Sunday Times: "Both Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travellers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy with their life in Vietnam, planning for the future."
They concluded: "The Vietnamese police have now confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, as verified by the autopsy results."
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