Update, 22 January 2025, 4pm:
The deaths of Arno Els (36) and Greta Marie Otteson (33) have been confirmed to be methanol poisoning, according to an autopsy carried out by Vietnamese authorities.
‘We are grateful to the Vietnamese authorities for their thorough and professional handling of this case. While the investigation is under way, procedural requirements and due diligence are being followed. Both families are aligned with the authorities in our shared goal of holding those responsible accountable,’ the couple’s families said in a joint statement.
‘The families remain fully confident in the ability of the Vietnamese authorities to conduct a fair and thorough investigation, and we ask for privacy as this process unfolds. No further statements will be forthcoming until the Vietnamese authorities complete their investigation,’ they added.
While highly toxic, methanol is sometimes illegally used in alcoholic beverages, according to News24. While both Methanol and ethanol are alcohols, methanol is poisonous and should not be ingested or inhaled.
In addition, there have been several reported incidents of methanol poisoning from tainted liquor in Southeast Asia, especially in recent years.
Glen Bo, a close friend of Els, told News24 that Els and Otteson had been drinking Limoncello on Christmas Eve and had been suffering from what they initially thought were hangovers on Christmas Day, 25 December.
Reportedly, Otteson experienced vision problems, and there were some discussions about whether the couple should have sought medical assistance, but both decided to ‘sleep it off’.
The deaths of a South African man and his British fiancé at a holiday villa in Vietnam have left their families and friends reeling as investigations continue, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Arno Els (36) and Greta Marie Otteson (33) were found on 26 December in separate rooms at a villa in Hoi An, where they had been long-term residents, according to Vietnamese police.
Otteson, a digital strategist and social media manager, was discovered on a bed in a first-floor room at around 11:18am local time, while Els, a Durban-born musician and comedian, was found in another room with the door reportedly locked from the inside.
Local authorities confirmed there were no signs of a break-in or physical violence, but the cause of death remains unclear, as reported by BBC News. The couple’s families, in a joint statement shared by comedian Glen Bo on Facebook, urged the public to respect their privacy.
‘It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that UK national Miss Greta Otteson and South African national Mr Arno Els have passed away in Hoi An, Vietnam on the 26th of December 2024,’ the statement read. ‘Please respect both families privacy as police legalities and procedures in Vietnam have not yet been completed, and the families do not want to prejudice the outcome.’
The statement also warned against misinformation: ‘Please refrain from posting on social media or spreading false information. Where appropriate, legal action will be taken in this regard. More information will be released at a later and appropriate time.’
The UK Foreign Office told BBC News it was in contact with local authorities and providing support to Otteson’s family. According to News24, the couple’s deaths have devastated their loved ones, who described them as vibrant, talented individuals.
Police investigations in Vietnam are ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge once legal processes are concluded.
Also read:
Elsies River teenager missing after drowning incident at West Coast National Park
Picture: Arno Quinton / Facebook
