Survivor calls for methanol poisoning awareness

Calum Macdonald lost his sight after being poisoned with methanol in Laos

A Surrey man who went blind after surviving methanol poisoning while travelling has said he would still have his sight if he had been aware of its dangers.

Calum Macdonald, 23, from Sunbury-on-Thames, joined bereaved families to meet members of the travel industry in parliament on Monday.

Campaigners want the government and travel industry to raise greater awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning by introducing specific posters and in-flight announcements.

The Foreign Office, which attended the meeting, has updated its travel advice for Laos, but has not commented on further plans.

"I think it's important that people know obviously because it's quite a simple bit of information you can get that can really save you a lot of pain", Mr Macdonald said.

"I certainly think if I'd been aware of the risks I wouldn't be here today without my vision."

Mr Macdonald had been backpacking in Laos when he fell victim to a mass methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng.

"In the hospital in Vietnam, I was there for two or three weeks, and at that point my vision was totally black," he said.

"I was thinking, 'I'll be fine', for the first week. It wasn't really until probably January or February I think when I found out that it was going to be really sort of a permanent, long-term thing."

Simone White, 28, died in 2024 after unknowingly drinking methanol in Laos

Fellow traveller Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from Orpington, died in 2024 along with five others after consuming free shots at the same hostel as Mr Macdonald in Laos.

Campaigner Amanda Dennis, who represents Ms White's family, said: "All these youngsters have died unnecessarily, and it could have been so easily avoided if there had been more awareness, if there had been more knowledge, and if they'd had it taught in schools."

The government said it had updated the curriculum on increasing personal safety while drinking alcohol, including how to avoid poisoning from potentially fatal substances, such as methanol.

Calum Macdonald had been on his first holiday with friends when he accepted free shots containing methanol

ABTA – The Travel Association, which also attended the meeting, said that it welcomed the opportunity to speak to affected family members and campaigners.

"We have committed to sharing Travel Aware campaign details with our members, exploring how we may be able to utilise our education partners and student representatives to amplify messaging, and continuing to engage with the roundtable group and update them on our activities," a spokesperson said.

Next steps following the meeting are to be announced in the coming weeks.