‘I saw a kaleidoscopic light before going blind’, says Laos methanol poisoning survivor | BBC News

A group of bereaved family and friends in the UK are calling for more awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning abroad.

Methanol can be found in spirits in tourist hotspots like Thailand, Indonesia or Laos.

However, it’s not always easy to tell whether the alcohol is bootleg, and the effects of these drinks can be life changing or even fatal.

23-year-old Calum Macdonald is now blind and told his story for the first time, as one of several victims of a mass methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, Laos last November.