The third person has died in Laos after drinking tainted alcohol, as two Australian teenagers continue to fight for their lives following the mass poisoning incident.
Shaun Bowles, Holly’s father, said his daughter remained on life support at Bangkok Hospital.
“We’d just like to thank everyone from back home for all the support and love that we’re receiving,” he said.
“But we’d also like for people to appreciate right now we just need privacy so we can spend as much time as we can with Holly.”
Ms Jones’s family is by her bedside at the Bangkok Hospital Udon Thani in Thailand’s north.
The Beaumaris Football Club in Melbourne’s south-east, where Ms Bowles and Ms Jones are members, has sent messages of support to the pair.
Melbourne 19-year-olds Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones are critically ill after they drank alcohol suspected to have been tainted by methanol at a bar in Vang Vieng in Laos last Tuesday.
Ms Bowles and Ms Jones are currently hospitalised in Thailand.
On Thursday morning the US State Department said a US citizen had died in Vang Vieng. It is understood at least two Danish women in their 20s have died, with at least 10 people falling ill after drinking the alcohol.
“We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Vang Vieng, Laos,” the US State Department said.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to their family on their loss.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance.”
A spokesman for the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the department was “providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand”.
“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” the spokesman said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
DFAT yesterday updated its travel advice for Laos following the methanol poisonings, telling travellers to “be alert to the potential risks, particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails” in the country.