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Young Swede dies on paradise island

Published: 30 Jun 12 08:57 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41748/20120630/

A 28-year-old Swedish man has died after eating at a local restaurant on the Indonesian tourist island of Gili Trawangan, only a year after another Swede died of methanol poisoning.

The man, who is reported by Aftonbladet to be from western Sweden, died on Wednesday after having had dinner with his girlfriend.

"The cause of death remains unclear," said Kent Öberg at the Swedish foreign ministry to the TT news agency.

His body is reported to be still in Indonesia.

The death comes just a year after 21-year-old Rasmuss Lindholm from Stockholm died after drinking the local "arrak" moonshine.

Gili Trawangan is one of three droplets of palm-fringed sand just off the coast of Lombok a neighbouring island to the major tourist destination of Bali.

The island is a popular weekend retreat for expats and tourists alike from Bali. The island is the liveliest and most developed of the three Gilis and is known for its club and party scene.

While the islands are predominantly Muslim, alcohol is widely available but is heavily taxed and thus the local moonshine is a popular and cheap alternative for mixing drinks.

The Swedish foreign ministry has issued a warning over the locally-distilled spirit following the death of Rasmuss Lindholm in June 2011.

Lindholm's relatives have also urged the popular backpacker guidebook publisher Lonely Planet to carry a warning against the potentially fatal local liquor.

TT/The Local/pvs (news@thelocal.se)

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12:03 June 30, 2012 by Fred Johnsson
You see! It is the Swedish government's fault! Systembolaget's sky high taxes makes it very difficult to enjoy a drink in Sweden!
12:04 June 30, 2012 by Svensksmith
Paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be.
01:16 August 17, 2012 by leonfrom54
Comment:

In 2009 my daughter was one of at least 25 people poisoned in Bali over a week period. I know of two other young people who died but were not included in the final count. To date there has been no criminal proceedings or conviction.

In March 2010, I started to track reports of Methanol poisoning in Indonesia and below are the instances I have discovered. In each case for every person that died there are ten or more who are brain damaged or blinded or otherwise injured for life. In April 2010 22 people died from drinking contaminated alcohol.NineMSN reported "The latest deaths bring to 71 the number of people who have died in Central Java of suspected methanol poisoning since 2009.Last year, 25 people, including four foreigners, died of suspected poisoning in a two-week period on Indonesia's resort islands of Bali and Lombok." In May 2010 eight people died from contaminated alcohol. In June 2010 23 people died and 500 were injured from drinking contaminate rice wine. In August 2010 eight people died after consuming contaminated alcohol in Jakarta. Three Russian Engineers were poisoned by Methanol on 14th September 2010 . More recently an Australian backpacker died in August 12 a Japanese man died in April 2012, and and Australian Rugby player died in November 2011. In many instances these poisonings go unreported because locals are afraid to name the powerful local poisoners. There are travel warnings on the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs web site, Dutch and British Foreign Office travel advisories and Lonely Planet web site.The only medical assistance available to my daughter except for some really wonderful fellow tourists was a local "doctor" who did not know how to perform CPR and who carried a coconut as his medical kit. We have eye witness reports of bar staff topping up bottles of well known spirits from unmarked plastic bottles. This was not a case of naive tourists taking a risk for a cheap drink. This is wanton killing with no hope of any justice. I would strongly urge your paper to issue a warning to any travelers to Bali or the Gili Islands in Indonesia to be extremely vigilant. My family and I never thought we would live the rest of our lives without our treasured daughter. I will do my best to ensure no other parent or family have to experience the heartbreak we feel every minute of every day.
15:32 November 7, 2012 by caradeburca
LEONFROM54 : Can you please please get in contact with me? We have an inquest coming up with a family member who is a suspected victim of arak poisioning on Lombok island. caradeburca@gmail.com
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