The family of Holly Bowles says the Melbourne teenager is now “at peace” after she became the sixth victim to die from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.

The 19-year-old passed away with her parents by her bedside in a Bangkok hospital on Friday, one day after her best mate Bianca Jones, also 19, died in another hospital in the Thailand capital.

Both had been on life support in Thailand following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago.

“It is with broken hearts and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace,” her family said in a statement.

“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.

“Holly was living her best life travelling through South East Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.

“As her parents, we were always so incredibly proud of everything Holly did.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong offered her deepest sympathies to Bowles’ family on behalf of the Australian people, in the wake of Jones’ death on Thursday.

“I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in their hearts,” Senator Wong posted on social media.

Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by “brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system”.

The suspected methanol poisoning event in Vang Vieng has been linked to six deaths so far, including the two Australians, British woman Simone White, 28, an American and two Danish tourists.

Hostel owner detained

With investigations underway, Laotian police detained the manager and owner of a hostel where the two teenagers had stayed.

An officer at Vang Vieng’s Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press that a “number of people” had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed.

Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.

The US State Department on Friday issued a health alert for citizens travelling in Laos, warning of “suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks” following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved.

Bowles and Jones, from Beaumaris in Melbourne’s southeast, were on holiday in Laos last week when they became ill along with a dozen other tourists in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.

Both were heavily involved in the Beaumaris Football Club which was holding a “private get together” for players and coaches on Friday night.

“It’s been an incredibly tough week for the club and tonight’s event is about supporting each other through this tough time,” a spokesman said.

“Particularly those girls who played with Bianca and Holly, all of whom are now playing Senior footy.”

On November 11, Jones and Bowles planned to stay at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng and have a few drinks, but decided to go to Jaidee Bar.

Jones and Bowles didn’t leave their dorm room for 24 hours afterwards and reported feeling unwell on November 13.

They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment.

Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning.

Laos is a one-party communist state and the government keeps a tight lid on information.

In this case, officials have released almost no details.

The foreign ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the town’s health office on the hospital grounds.

The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission.

Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death.

It is also a by-product of poorly distilled home-brew liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently.

Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination.

Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports.

-with AAP