Methanol poisoning victim campaigns at Manchester Airport to warn tourists
A British man left blind by methanol in Laos is handing out leaflets at Manchester Airport to warn travellers about the risks of counterfeit alcohol.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A British man who lost his sight after drinking methanol while backpacking in Southeast Asia has launched a campaign at Manchester Airport to warn other tourists about the dangers of counterfeit alcohol.
Callum McDonald was on holiday in Laos when he unknowingly drank methanol, a toxic form of alcohol, while at a bar with friends. Within days, his vision failed completely. "I started to notice a number of symptoms, including kind of feeling very lethargic and tired. I started to have problems with my vision and eventually really struggled to breathe and eventually my eyesight went totally dark," he said. He survived, but some of the people he was drinking with that night died.
Now, alongside Margaret, whose daughter Kirsty died from methanol poisoning in Bali, Callum has been handing out leaflets at Manchester Airport. The campaign aims to educate holidaymakers about the symptoms and the need to get medical help quickly. Margaret said: "People need to know what drinks are safer, what drinks to be wary of, but really importantly to be aware of the symptoms because if they start to feel unwell the next day, if you realise what's going wrong and you can get yourself to hospital in time, you can save your sight and you can save your life because there is treatment."
The government has provided banners, posters and leaflets for the stand, and has produced a video about the dangers of methanol poisoning. The travellers passing through the airport were largely unaware of the risks, with one saying: "I didn't really know the symptoms and stuff, it was more just don't drink cheap wine and stuff. I didn't know it would make you go blind or anything like that."
Callum hopes that the shock of his story will make the information stick. "Most people have been saying they hadn't heard of methanol poisoning and when I kind of talk to them about my story and about the effect it's had on my life, people are often really shocked, but I think that shock will mean that it sticks in their mind and therefore will hopefully mean they can avoid my situation."
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Callum McDonald permanently lost his sight after drinking methanol in Laos. | |
| Margaret's daughter Kirsty died from methanol poisoning in Bali. | |
| The government updated travel advice and provided materials for a campaign. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the personal stories of victims and their families, using emotional testimony to underline the seriousness of methanol poisoning. It highlighted the practical campaign at Manchester Airport and the government's role in providing materials, while also noting the lack of awareness among travellers.
- “I started to notice a number of symptoms, including kind of feeling very lethargic and tired. I started to have problems with my vision and eventually really struggled to breathe and eventually my eyesight went totally dark and I completely lost my eyesight and that's what it's been like ever since.”
- “People need to know what drinks are safer, what drinks to be wary of, but really importantly to be aware of the symptoms because if they start to feel unwell the next day, if you realise what's going wrong and you can get yourself to hospital in time, you can save your sight and you can save your life because there is treatment.”
- “Most people have been saying they hadn't heard of methanol poisoning and when I kind of talk to them about my story and about the effect it's had on my life, people are often really shocked, but I think that shock will mean that it sticks in their mind and therefore will hopefully mean they can avoid my situation.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.