Pearl Jam Halt Sydney Show to Honour Aussie Victims of Laos Methanol Poisoning
Image: Eddie Vedder at ENGIE stadium on Thursday night
Eddie Vedder halted last night’s Pearl Jam concert at ENGIE Stadium in Sydney to pay tribute to two young Australian women who were among the victims of a mass methanol poisoning incident in Laos.
The band was playing the first of their two Sydney shows as part of the Dark Matter world tour when Vedder took a moment to speak about the tragic incident, the death toll for which now reaching five.
Vedder honoured the families of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, after the two Australian teenagers were poisoned by methanol-spiked drinks at a bar in Vang Vieng in Laos.
Jones, 19, tragically passed away in a Thailand hospital on Thursday, while Bowles, also 19, remains in critical condition.
In footage shared on TikTok, the Pearl Jam front man called the tragedy “absolutely fucking senseless.”
@thetodayshow Eddie Vedder has paid tribute to suspected poisoning victims Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles during a Pearl Jam concert at ENGIE Stadium in Sydney overnight. #9Today ♬ original sound – The Today Show
“The one young woman Bianca Jones, she’s passed, and her friend Holly Bowles is hanging in, and we wish her the best, and we are thinking about the parents,” he said.
Vedder told the crowd he did not want his message to sound empty, but said “It can’t be empty if there’s 50,000 of us.”
“We are sending you everything we have got today. We are so sorry”.
Bianca Jones’ family says she died “surrounded by love”
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Bianca Jones’ family shared that their daughter passed away “surrounded by love.”
Her parents, Mark and Michelle, along with her brother, Lachlan, expressed that they are “comforted by the knowledge that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us.”
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we’ve received from across Australia. The kindness shown to our family during this unimaginable time has been truly humbling.”
Women begged for help before falling ill from methanol poisoning in Laos
According to the Herald Sun, the two 19-year-old women sought help at a backpacker’s hostel, complaining they “couldn’t breathe” before their condition worsened.
A staff member at Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the women were staying, recalled their \ plea for help.
“They spent all day of the 12th (of November) in their room. We didn’t know what happening with them because they go party outside,” the staff member, who went by the nickname Pikachu, said.
“They come to tell my staff, please, can you help me, bring me to the hospital.
“They feeling hard to breathe, the staff in the night shift just quickly bring her to the hospital.”
Jones was one of five people to die following a poisoning incident in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng, where 10 backpackers fell ill after drinking alcohol believed to have been contaminated with methanol.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed deep sympathy for the families of both Jones and Bowles.
“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure,” he said.
“We also take this moment to say that we’re thinking of Bianca’s friend Holly Bowles who is fighting for her life,” Albanese added.
An American tourist and two Danish nationals have also tragically lost their lives due to the methanol poisoning incident in Laos.
