By Admin 
Police released a photo of one of the hotel rooms where a British woman and her fiancé were found dead in Vietnam.
The lifeless bodies of Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and her partner Els Arno Quinton, 36, were found in separate areas of the Hoi An holiday home they were staying in.
Staff stumbled upon the harrowing scene after entering the villa to clean it on Boxing Day (26 December).
The couple, who had gotten engaged just three weeks prior, are said to have drank ‘homemade’ limoncello in the days beforehand, which was laced with methanol.
Otteson, a social media manager from Wales, was found dead on a bed in a room on the first floor of the villa in the coastal city at around 11:18 local time, police said.
In a neighbouring room, Quinton was found in similar circumstances – but according to the BBC, this door had also reportedly been locked from the inside.
Cops in Vietnam said that a preliminary inspection of their bodies had not revealed any signs of external force, such as scratches or physical trauma.
Both rooms didn’t look as though they had been ransacked either, with police saying there was no suggestion a burglary had taken place.
However, local media reported at the time that ‘several empty bottles of wine‘ were found at the scene.
Police shared an image of one of the rooms where the couple were found dead (Quangnam Provincial Police)
In an image released by Quang Nam Provincial Police, there appears to be two glass bottles which resemble booze containers on a table in the corner of the room.
Other objects are also seen littered across the dressing table and floor. It is not clear whether the photo depicts Otteson or Quinton’s room.
A spokesperson for the force said earlier this month: “There were no signs of ransacking at the scene. The victims’ belongings and phones were untouched.”
It has since emerged that Otteson and her musician fiancé consumed methanol-laced limoncello while enjoying a Christmas getaway in Hoi An.
Investigators say that the pair – who moved to Vietnam in February last year – purchased ‘homemade’ limoncello from a local restaurant in the coastal city on Christmas Eve (24 December).
Another two bottles of the lemon liqueur were also delivered to the hotel reception for Otteson and Quinton from another nearby restaurant, officials added.
“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, explaining she was suffering from the ‘worst hangover ever’ and was seeing ‘black spots’ in her vision, the publication reported.
The couple decided to try and ‘sleep it off’, with the source claiming: “A local bar owner and a fantastic friend called over and wanted to take them to hospital but they refused. Sadly I think it was too late by then.”
Greta Marie Otteson and Els Arno Quinton drank methanol-laced limoncello, officials said (Greta Otteson/Facebook)
Hours later, Otteson and Quinton were found dead in separate rooms at the holiday home.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office also confirmed they were supporting Otteson’s family and were in contact with the local authorities.
Otteson’s parents, Susan and Paul, said in a statement: “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.
“The Vietnamese police have now confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, as verified by the autopsy results.”
The devastated couple and Quinton’s family have vowed to ‘bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice’.
In a joint statement, they said: “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.”
A host of tourists in Laos passed away or were left seriously ill late last year due to suspected methanol poisoning.
The body converts it into highly toxic formic acid, but it can take up to 24 hours after consuming a methanol-laced drink for these symptoms to appear, as the chemical only becomes toxic once the body begins to metabolise it.
Methanol – which is similar in appearance and smell to ethanol, the component found in booze – cannot be tasted in drinks, and even just small amounts of the stuff can be lethal.
Methanol poisoning can lead to brain damage, organ failure, blindness, and death, and symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, changes to vision, and abdominal pain.
Anyone with suspected methanol poisoning is urged to seek medical attention immediately.
Featured Image Credit: Quangnam Provincial Police
Topics: Alcohol, Food And Drink, Health, Travel, UK News, World News
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
A British woman and her fiancé who died after drinking limoncello reportedly ‘refused an offer’ for help, with it tragically said it was ‘too late’ to save the pair who thought they were having the ‘worst hangover ever’.
Greta Marie Otteson and her South African partner Els Arno Quinton were found dead by staff on Boxing Day at the Hoi An Silverbell Villa.
With no signs of trauma, it was unclear at first what had killed the recently engaged couple.
The pair had gone out for dinner on Christmas Eve and the next day, a source says Otteson text her parents, complaining she could see ‘black spots’ in her vision.
The pair were found dead in their hotel room. (Quangnam Provincial Police)
Otteson and Els, who had moved to Vietnam last February, went out for dinner at a restaurant on Christmas Eve. And when they got home at about 10.00pm, they’d had two bottles of limoncello delivered to their reception desk from a different restaurant.
Fatally, investigators believe this ‘homemade’ liqueur was laced with methanol.
It’s said Otteson, from Wales, was later complaining of having the ‘worst hangover ever’ and instead of them getting medical help, the pair decided to try and just ‘sleep it off’.
The source added to The Times: “A local bar owner and a fantastic friend called over and wanted to take them to hospital but they refused. Sadly I think it was too late by then.
“Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source.”
Vietnamese police have confirmed Otteson and Els’ deaths were caused by methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol.
Even if it’s a small amount, when the industrial chemical is consumed, the body converts it into highly toxic formic acid.
They had not long since announced their engagement. (Greta Otteson / Facebook)
Typically found in antifreeze, paint thinners and windscreen-washer fluid, it cannot be tasted in drinks. But home-brewed alcohol is often found to contain it.
Methanol poisoning can lead to brain damage, organ failure, blindness and death and symptoms 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 these 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 immediately.
Otteson’s parents, Susan and Paul, said in a statement: “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.
“The Vietnamese police have now confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, as verified by the autopsy results.”