A British woman and her fiancé who died after drinking "poisoined" Limoncello in Vietnam were seeing "black spots" in their final hours, according to a devastated friend. Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Arno Els Quinton, 36, were discovered in separate rooms by resort staff at the Hoi An Silverbell Villa in Vietnam, on Boxing Day - just three weeks after their engagement. Investigators have said the couple's deaths were caused by methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol, believed to be "homemade" limoncello purchased from a local restaurant on Christmas Eve. Two bottles of limoncello were delivered to the hotel reception from a different restaurant, according to police.
Todd Ford, a friend of the couple, visited them at 10pm on Christmas Day, just 24 hours after the pair had consumed the lemon liqueuer. Ottenson had been suffering from what she thought was "the worst hangover ever" and was in bed drinking coconut juice after being sick. She had complained of seeing "black spots.". Ford, who didn't see Arno but spoke to Greta, was told he had also complained of feeling unwell and had most likely fallen alseep in the room where he kept his computer. “I went up and I knocked. I called his name. I didn’t see any lights on in the room,” Ford told The Times. “I got Greta water and went to check on her. I said: ‘Do you want me to break the door down?’ She was like, ‘He probably fell asleep playing his video games and his hangover’s probably even worse than mine.’ “She wasn’t concerned. But I believe in hindsight that he probably had already [died] at that stage because he consumed a lot more than her.”.
The friend was asked to check up on the couple and Otteson, who was in her pyjamas in bed, was sat alongside her rescue dog Bambi. According to Ford, she said her "hangover was subsiding but she had some vision issues that were worrying her." After suggesting they visit a hospital, she turned down the offer and insisted she could "sleep it off.". It comes as suspect bartender Le Tan Gia, 46, was arrested on Friday after he was accused of using 70 per cent medical alcohol - intended only for disinfection - to prepare two bottles of the lemon liquor Limoncello. He is said to have mixed the alcohol with filtered water, lemon peels, and white sugar before serving it to the tourists. Home-brewed alcohol can often be found to contain Methanol, a toxic chemical that can cause blindness, brain damage, and death.
Le Tan Gia has been charged with violating food safety regulations. A police spokesman said: “The Criminal Investigation Police Department of Quang Nam Province arrested the suspect on charges of violating food safety regulations. “The prosecution of the defendant will continue, based on the evidence he served the victims methanol drinks that caused their deaths. Currently, the case is being investigated and handled by the police force in accordance with the law.”.
