Shocking details have emerged in the tragic deaths of Melbourne women Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, as well as four others, from a mass methanol poisoning.

The 19-year-olds from Beaumaris, in Melbourne’s bayside, died last week after a mass drink-spiking event in in a tourist town in Laos.

On Monday, the state-run Vientiane Times named Danes Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and 57-year-old American James Louis Hutson as the other three confirmed to have died.

British lawyer Simone White, 28, was the other fatality.

Coyman and Sorensen were reportedly found unconscious on a bathroom floor at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the tourist town of Vang Vieng on November 13. They died in hospital in Vientiane, the Laotian capital.

Hutson was reportedly found unconscious in his bed late on November 13 after staff noticed he had not come out of his room. The Times said police found four empty bottles of beer and two empty bottles of vodka in the room.

The incident also left a dozen more people ill.

The Laotian government has vowed to hold those responsible for the tragic poisonings to account.

“The government of the Lao PDR is profoundly saddened over the loss of lives of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province and expresses its sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” it said on Saturday, in its first statement on the incident.

“The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.”

The Times reports that the operators of the hostel, where all those who died were staying, have been detained and questioned. No charges have been laid.

The hostel has been closed since November 14.

‘Confused to comatose’

Elsewhere, one of the first doctors to treat Bowles after she was taken to hospital said she deteriorated rapidly.

Dr Yaher, who treated the Melbourne teenager at the local district hospital, told The Times that Bowles was “confused” and “sleepy”.

“We asked her what she had eaten or drunk, but she didn’t know what had happened,” he said.

Yaher put Bowles on a drip after treating her “symptomatically”.

“But after 30 minutes she had a seizure and went into a coma. I was so surprised. We gave her CPR, because she had difficulty breathing, and we intubated her and referred her to Vientiane,” he said.

Bowles died on Friday, nine days after drinking the toxic vodka. Jones had died a day earlier.

The teenagers’ heartbroken families are now seeking public help to help cover the mounting costs to bring their daughters’ bodies home.

The families, who also want to raise awareness about methanol poisoning, have started a GoFundMe in their daughters’ memory. It had raised nearly $190,000 of its goal of $250,000 by midday on Monday (AEDT).

“Tragically, their journey, along with visitors from different countries, was cut short when they fell victim to methanol poisoning – a hidden danger that claimed their lives just one day apart,” the fundraising page states.

“This campaign, organised by the families of Bianca and Holly, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of methanol poisoning – a silent but deadly risk that often claims lives without warning.

“We want to honour the memory of Bianca, Holly, and others impacted by methanol poisoning by turning this tragedy into a mission for change.”

The description detailed the fundraiser’s three main objectives were to relieve financial burdens for the families, support existing initiatives, and fund awareness campaigns.

On Saturday, Jones’ father said his daughter was on the trip of a lifetime and wanted to explore the world to meet new friends.

“Her life had just begun,” Mark Jones said outside the Bangkok hospital where his daughter died.

“She was a young woman that had a lust for life.

“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”

Jones’ shared his family’s gratitude to the Australian government for its support, and also thanked those who had sent tributes – among them the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader and even  Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder.

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

On behalf of both Australian families, her father urged the Laos government to investigate the incident to the “fullest extent” to avoid it happening again.

“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others,” he said.

“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was working closely with local authorities.

-with AAP