A tragic case in Hội An has sparked outrage and a call for accountability after two foreign tourists were found dead from suspected methanol poisoning.
On December 26, 2024, Greta Otteson, a 33-year-old British national, and her fiancé Arno Quinton, 36, from South Africa, were discovered lifeless inside a locked villa in Hội An.
Cause of Death: Toxic Alcohol in Limoncello
Local police concluded that both victims died of methanol poisoning after consuming limoncello—an Italian lemon-flavored liqueur—that had been illicitly mixed with 70-degree medical alcohol (intended only for disinfection, not consumption). The concoction was reportedly prepared at a local restaurant by a bartender who added filtered water, lemon peel, and sugar.
The bartender was arrested in February 2025 and has since been prosecuted and placed in pre-trial detention.
Family’s Grief and Frustration
Greta’s parents later brought home the ashes of their daughter and her fiancé, placing them in two square urns at their family home in Wales—one adorned with a pink rabbit plush toy, the other with a blue teddy bear.
“We want to lay them to rest, but we cannot do so until there is an official conclusion,” said Paul Otteson, Greta’s father. He added that the family has received no further updates from Vietnamese authorities.
The family also expressed deep disappointment that the restaurant where the fatal drink was served remains open and has yet to issue a public apology.
A Call for Accountability
“All we want is justice. The issue is responsibility,” Mr. Otteson emphasized.
📷 Photo courtesy of the family // Quảng Nam Police
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Source: Vietnam Insider