Laotian authorities call press conference on Danish tourists’ deaths

Laotian authorities have suddenly called a press conference nearly two years after the deaths of two Danish tourists, Freja Vennervald Sørensen and Anne-Sofie Ørkild Coyman, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The women, both in their early 20s, died in November 2024 in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos, alongside four other foreign nationals—from Australia, the US, and the UK—after reportedly consuming methanol-laced drinks at the Nana Backpackers Hostel. All victims had been staying at the same hostel.

Freja’s parents, Karsten Sørensen and Rikke Vennervald Sørensen, confirmed to DR that they received an invitation via the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a press conference about “the tragic accident in Vang Vieng in November 2024,” referencing “the tragic deaths of two Danish citizens.” The event is scheduled to begin at 09:00 Danish time today.

Local police initially told the families the women had died from “ingestion of a toxic substance,” later suspected to be methanol in free shots distributed at the hostel. Eight hostel staff were detained shortly after the deaths, though the hostel owner denied serving methanol, according to the BBC.

No autopsies were performed, leaving the families without definitive proof of the cause of death. Official death certificates listed “natural causes, cardiac arrest,” a claim authorities maintained from the start. Tests on the British and Australian victims, however, confirmed methanol poisoning.

Freja’s parents expressed cautious optimism about the press conference but remain skeptical about its outcomes. “We’re glad something is finally happening, because we’ve heard nothing from the local authorities throughout this process,” Karsten Sørensen said. He noted that pressure from foreign ministries, including Denmark’s, had visibly frustrated Laotian officials.

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it has followed the case “extraordinarily closely” due to its gravity and will continue to monitor the press conference and legal proceedings in Laos.

Methanol, a toxic alcohol found in products like antifreeze and solvents, can cause severe poisoning leading to blindness, coma, or death. Symptoms often begin with typical intoxication before progressing to life-threatening complications.