Australian tourists critical after suspected alcohol poisoning at Fiji resort

Lautoka Hospital. Photo / Supplied

A number of Australians have been hospitalised in a critical condition after a suspected incident of alcohol poisoning in Fiji.

According to local media, seven guests at the Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast became ill after consuming an alcoholic cocktail at the resort bar.

The group were taken to Sigatoka Hospital with “nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms” on Saturday night.

Two of the group were then rushed to Lautoka Hospital because of the severity of their symptoms.

The victims are reportedly aged between 18 and 56.

It’s understood four of the group are Australian citizens.

Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks in #Fiji. Get urgent medical help if you suspect drink spiking. Read more: https://t.co/9j211nyfUK and https://t.co/8flCXMangZ

— Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) December 15, 2024

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing assistance to two families in Fiji.

The department updated its travel advice for Fiji on Sunday following the incident and urged travellers to continue to exercise normal travel precautions.

“Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks,” the revised SmartTraveller advisory read.

“Get urgent medical help if you suspect drink spiking.”

Local media reports the Fijian Ministry of Health had deployed a team of health inspectors to investigate the incident and identify any other victims.

The incident comes just weeks after teenage Australians Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones were among six people who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning event in Laos.

The teens had been staying in a backpacker hostel before they fell violently ill after allegedly consuming a poisoned cocktail.

As many as 10 travellers are believed to have fallen ill after consuming the poisoned alcohol in Van Vieng.