Greta Otteson and Arno Els: Tainted limoncello poisoned couple in Vietnam tragedy
A British woman and her fiance died from “methanol poisoning” after drinking contaminated limoncello in Vietnam, police have confirmed.
Greta Otteson, 33, and her partner Arno Els, 36, were discovered dead on Boxing Day at the hotel they had been running for 10 months.
The pair are thought to have bought two bottles of “homemade” limoncello on Christmas Eve from a nearby restaurant.
On Christmas Day they had what Ms Otteson described to her mother on WhatsApp as “the worst hangover ever”.
A friend came over and advised they go to hospital but they decided to try to sleep it off.
The next morning staff at the Hoi An Silverbell Villa found both Ms Otteson and South African Mr Els dead.
Detectives confirmed over the weekend that the couple died from methanol poisoning.
Camera IconThe couple were discovered dead in separate rooms by shocked resort staff at the hotel that the couple had been running for ten months. Credit: Unknown/Facebook
Methanol, which is impossible to taste, can be found in illicit or homemade alcoholic drinks.
It takes only a small amount for there to be deadly consequences, because when it is consumed the body converts it into a highly destructive acid that causes organ failure.
The restaurant the couple ordered the bottles from offers a shot of the yellow, sweet and citrus-flavoured liqueur for $5.50.
Ms Otteson’s parents are in talks with the Vietnamese police and the British Foreign Office about bringing the restaurant to justice.
The deaths came just five weeks after British lawyer Simone White, 28, died in neighbouring Laos from methanol poisoning after drinking contaminated vodka shots.
Camera IconArno Els Quinton. Credit: Unknown/Facebook
In a statement, Ms Otteson’s parents Susan and Paul told the Sunday Times: “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.”
They added: “The Vietnamese police have now confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, as verified by the autopsy results.”
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