A British woman who died after reportedly drinking toxic limoncello in Vietnam sent a harrowing final message to her family.
Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and her South African fiancé Els Arno Quinton, 36, were found lifeless in their hotel rooms on Boxing Day by staff, according to police.
The couple – who had announced their engagement in a YouTube video just days before – were enjoying a Christmas getaway in the coastal city of Hoi An in the Southeast Asian country.
They had moved to Vietnam in February last year.
Investigators said the pair are believed to have purchased ‘homemade’ limoncello from a local restaurant on Christmas Eve, which they suspect might have been laced with methanol.
Officials in Vietnam explained that two bottles of the lemon liqueur from another nearby restaurant were also delivered to the hotel reception for Otteson and Quinton.
“Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source,” a source close to the victims’ families told The Times.
Otteson later contacted her parents via WhatsApp and sent them a tragic final text message.
Police said the pair consumed methanol laced limoncello (Quangnam Provincial Police)
She complained that she was suffering from the ‘worst hangover ever’ and was seeing ‘black spots’ in her vision, the publication reported.
Otteson, from Wales, and Quinton, a musician and livestreamer, decided to try and ‘sleep it off’.
“A local bar owner and a fantastic friend called over and wanted to take them to hospital but they refused,” the source also claimed. “Sadly I think it was too late by then.”
Hours later, social media manager Otteson was found dead in her hotel room by staff, while Quinton was also found deceased in his separate room nearby.
A Quang Nam Provincial Police spokesperson stated at the time: “There were no signs of ransacking at the scene. The victims’ belongings and phones were untouched.”
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office also confirmed they were supporting Otteson’s family and were in contact with the local authorities.
It comes after a host of tourists in Laos passed away or were left seriously ill late last year due to suspected methanol poisoning.
Methanol is an industrial chemical and can be found in everyday products such as fuel, solvents and paint thinners.
Although similar in appearance and smell to ethanol – the component found in alcoholic drinks – methanol is not safe for human consumption, with just 25ml said to be lethal for the body.
Otteson and Quinton moved to Vietnam last year (Greta Otteson/Facebook)
Symptoms of methanol poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, changes to vision and abdominal pain.
It can take up to 24 hours after consuming a methanol laced drink for symptoms to appear, as the chemical only becomes toxic once the body begins to metabolise it.
Anyone with suspected methanol poisoning is urged to seek medical attention straight away, as it can cause blindness, brain damage and death.
In a statement, Otteson’s devastated parents Susan and Paul said: “Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travellers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy.”
Dad Paul has since told the Times that they want justice for the pair.
“Our aim is to bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice,” he said. “At some time in the future, we will have a memorial service for them both.
“Arno’s family expressed a wish that they should be together, which we wholeheartedly agree [with].”
Otteson and Quinton’s loved ones said in a joint statement: “Whilst the investigation is under way, procedural requirements and due diligence are being followed. Both families are aligned with the authorities in our shared goal of holding those responsible accountable.”
Featured Image Credit: Greta Otteson/Facebook
Topics: UK News, Alcohol, Food And Drink, Health, Travel
