Fatal methanol poisoning 'can happen to anyone'

Kirsty McKie, who had been living in Bali for eight years, died from methanol poisoning

A mother whose daughter died of methanol poisoning in Bali after drinking contaminated alcohol has warned that "it can happen to anyone".

Kirsty McKie, 38 and originally from Stockport, died in 2022 after unknowingly ingesting the chemical while at home with a friend on the Indonesian island where she had lived for eight years.

Her mother Margaret said that, unlike other UK travellers who had died from methanol poisoning, Kirsty had been well aware of the dangers and only ever bought alcohol from "high-end suppliers".

She added: "Kirsty's fiancé had a wine business and a restaurant and they were fully informed, so they were as careful as they could be."

'Indescribable shock'

Margaret added: "If it can happen to her, it really can happen to anyone."

She said Kirsty, who moved to Bali from London for a change in lifestyle, initially thought she had a bad hangover the day after drinking the contaminated alcohol.

When she became so unwell that she started losing consciousness, her fiancé took her to hospital.

Margaret recalled him ringing her to break the news that her daughter had died.

"He couldn't talk because he was just in tears and I had to say to him 'Is it bad?' and he said: 'It's very bad'.

"I had to say 'Has she died?' and he said 'Yes'.

"The shock was indescribable."

Kirsty moved to Bali for a change in lifestyle

To try to prevent further deaths, Margaret has joined a group of family members of people killed by methanol poisoning, as well as survivors, who have been campaigning to ensure people are better informed while travelling.

The group met on Monday with representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as well as other representatives from the travel industry.

Margaret said the group wanted the FCDO to change its official advice to travellers visiting some countries - including Indonesia.

They want the FCDO to urge travellers to avoid drinking spirits in those countries.

She said: "You cannot know what is in these bottles, even if they're sealed.

"They can be counterfeit, there are convincing labels ,or they can use a proper bottle and they can fill it up with toxic substances because industrial alcohol is a lot cheaper."

An FCDO spokesperson said: "We are tackling this issue head-on, working with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners to promote our Travel Aware campaign, raise awareness of the dangers and help British travellers stay safe abroad."

Margaret says the shock of losing her daughter was "indescribable"

Margaret said she also wanted better education both about the symptoms of methanol poisoning and the urgency of seeking treatment in suspected cases.

She said methanol poisoning can feel like a bad hangover that gets worse and feels "strange" or "more severe than you would expect".

It can also cause breathlessness and visual disturbances.

"Do not go to bed and sleep that off because then you can end up very seriously unwell and possibly lose your life," said Margaret.

"Certainly you can lose your sight.

"You have time to get to hospital and be saved because there is an antidote and there is treatment."