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| Vietnam methanol deaths leave family searching for justice | Vietnam methanol deaths leave family searching for justice |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Greta Otteson and Arno Quinton were found dead in Vietnam | Greta Otteson and Arno Quinton were found dead in Vietnam |
| The parents of a woman who died alongside her fiance after drinking contaminated limoncello have said they are desperate for justice. | The parents of a woman who died alongside her fiance after drinking contaminated limoncello have said they are desperate for justice. |
| Greta Otteson, 33, and Arno Quinton, 36, were found dead on Boxing Day in Hoi An, Vietnam, as a result of methanol poisoning from the alcohol that was bought by Greta's parents as a gift. | Greta Otteson, 33, and Arno Quinton, 36, were found dead on Boxing Day in Hoi An, Vietnam, as a result of methanol poisoning from the alcohol that was bought by Greta's parents as a gift. |
| Hours earlier, Greta had messaged her parents, Paul and Susan Otteson, to say she had "the worst hangover ever" and was going to lie down, but she never woke up. | Hours earlier, Greta had messaged her parents, Paul and Susan Otteson, to say she had "the worst hangover ever" and was going to lie down, but she never woke up. |
| The barman who allegedly made the limoncello was charged in February and is being held while investigations continue. The family said they had receieved no further updates from the police. | The barman who allegedly made the limoncello was charged in February and is being held while investigations continue. The family said they had receieved no further updates from the police. |
| "It's about accountability," said Paul, adding: "We can't move on." | "It's about accountability," said Paul, adding: "We can't move on." |
| Da Nang City Police has been asked to comment. | Da Nang City Police has been asked to comment. |
| Arno (left), pictured with Paul, Susan and Greta, in Vietnam in November 2024 | Arno (left), pictured with Paul, Susan and Greta, in Vietnam in November 2024 |
| Greta had been living in Hoi An with Arno, her South African partner of about two years, where the couple ran a villa renting out rooms to travellers. | Greta had been living in Hoi An with Arno, her South African partner of about two years, where the couple ran a villa renting out rooms to travellers. |
| She was an only child, described by her father as "marvellous", a "free spirit" and a "hard worker" who studied in Cardiff, Paris and Los Angeles. | She was an only child, described by her father as "marvellous", a "free spirit" and a "hard worker" who studied in Cardiff, Paris and Los Angeles. |
| In November 2024, Paul, 71 and Susan, 70, had travelled to Vietnam, meeting Arno for the first time, and the couple announced their engagement shortly afterwards. | In November 2024, Paul, 71 and Susan, 70, had travelled to Vietnam, meeting Arno for the first time, and the couple announced their engagement shortly afterwards. |
| "It was lovely - we were so happy," said Paul, who described Arno as "quiet but highly intelligent" and someone he "would have loved to have as a son in law". | "It was lovely - we were so happy," said Paul, who described Arno as "quiet but highly intelligent" and someone he "would have loved to have as a son in law". |
| Arno Quinton and Greta Otteson were found dead after drinking limoncello made with methanol | Arno Quinton and Greta Otteson were found dead after drinking limoncello made with methanol |
| During their stay, the family ate a number of times at Good Morning Vietnam, a well known Italian restaurant, where they enjoyed the food and received free shots of homemade limoncello at the end. | During their stay, the family ate a number of times at Good Morning Vietnam, a well known Italian restaurant, where they enjoyed the food and received free shots of homemade limoncello at the end. |
| A few weeks later, when Paul and Susan had left Vietnam and were trying to think of a Christmas gift for Greta and Arno, they remembered the restaurant and its bottles of limoncello and decided to order a few of them for delivery to their daughter's house. | A few weeks later, when Paul and Susan had left Vietnam and were trying to think of a Christmas gift for Greta and Arno, they remembered the restaurant and its bottles of limoncello and decided to order a few of them for delivery to their daughter's house. |
| It was a decision that would have the most devastating consequences. | It was a decision that would have the most devastating consequences. |
| Greta and Arno ran a holiday villa in the coastal city of Hoi An | Greta and Arno ran a holiday villa in the coastal city of Hoi An |
| Within hours of drinking the limoncello, Greta messaged her parents on Christmas Day to say she had a terrible hangover and was seeing black spots but brushed off suggestions from them, and a friend who had visited, to get medical help. | Within hours of drinking the limoncello, Greta messaged her parents on Christmas Day to say she had a terrible hangover and was seeing black spots but brushed off suggestions from them, and a friend who had visited, to get medical help. |
| Greta and Arno were found dead in separate rooms of the villa on Boxing Day. | Greta and Arno were found dead in separate rooms of the villa on Boxing Day. |
| It was not long before post-mortem examinations revealed that the couple had died from severe methanol poisoning. | It was not long before post-mortem examinations revealed that the couple had died from severe methanol poisoning. |
| Vietnamese police investigate the couple's apartment | Vietnamese police investigate the couple's apartment |
| In February, police arrested a barman who worked in a restaurant in Hoi An for "violating regulations on food safety" by "using used 70-degree medical grade alcohol, along with filtered water, lemon peel and white sugar to create two bottles of limoncello". | In February, police arrested a barman who worked in a restaurant in Hoi An for "violating regulations on food safety" by "using used 70-degree medical grade alcohol, along with filtered water, lemon peel and white sugar to create two bottles of limoncello". |
| According to the Vietnamese central government, the offence could carry a maximum prison term of seven to 15 years. | According to the Vietnamese central government, the offence could carry a maximum prison term of seven to 15 years. |
| Methanol is a type of alcohol commonly found in cleaning products, fuel and antifreeze. | Methanol is a type of alcohol commonly found in cleaning products, fuel and antifreeze. |
| It is similar to ethanol, which is used for alcoholic drinks, but it is cheaper and more toxic to humans because of the way it is processed by the body. | It is similar to ethanol, which is used for alcoholic drinks, but it is cheaper and more toxic to humans because of the way it is processed by the body. |
| Hundreds of people are poisoned by methanol every year in South East Asia, according to the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). | Hundreds of people are poisoned by methanol every year in South East Asia, according to the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF). |
| Greta and Arno's deaths came just weeks after six people died of methanol poisoning in Laos, a country which neighbours Vietnam. | Greta and Arno's deaths came just weeks after six people died of methanol poisoning in Laos, a country which neighbours Vietnam. |
| Paul and Susan feel they cannot put Greta and Arno's ashes to rest until they have answers | Paul and Susan feel they cannot put Greta and Arno's ashes to rest until they have answers |
| In the Otteson's home in Rhandirmwyn, Carmarthenshire, two square bags sit next to the stairs - one has a pink bunny sitting on top, the other, a blue teddy. | |
| They hold Greta and Arno's ashes. | They hold Greta and Arno's ashes. |
| "They sit in the lounge with us," said Mr Otteson, a retired project manager. "We want to put them to rest, but we feel we can't do that until we get a proper conclusion." | "They sit in the lounge with us," said Mr Otteson, a retired project manager. "We want to put them to rest, but we feel we can't do that until we get a proper conclusion." |
| Paul and Susan were warned investigations take a long time in Vietnam, with the possibility of a suspect being held for a year before being charged or released. | Paul and Susan were warned investigations take a long time in Vietnam, with the possibility of a suspect being held for a year before being charged or released. |
| They said the wait for answers was becoming unbearable. | They said the wait for answers was becoming unbearable. |
| Hoi An, where Greta and Arno were living, is a coastal city in Vietnam which is popular with tourists | Hoi An, where Greta and Arno were living, is a coastal city in Vietnam which is popular with tourists |
| "We just want justice," said Paul. | "We just want justice," said Paul. |
| "We can't move on. Susan's asking me every morning when we wake up, 'is there any news? Is there any news?' I have to say 'no, nothing yet'." | "We can't move on. Susan's asking me every morning when we wake up, 'is there any news? Is there any news?' I have to say 'no, nothing yet'." |
| "It's about accountability," he added. | "It's about accountability," he added. |
| "Justice for us would be naming the people responsible and prosecuting them." | "Justice for us would be naming the people responsible and prosecuting them." |
| The couple said they also felt "very upset" the restaurant where they had ordered the limoncello was still open and had not publicly apologised. | The couple said they also felt "very upset" the restaurant where they had ordered the limoncello was still open and had not publicly apologised. |
| "They just carried on as if nothing has happened," said Paul. | "They just carried on as if nothing has happened," said Paul. |
| Good Morning Vietnam did not respond to requests for comment from BBC News. | Good Morning Vietnam did not respond to requests for comment from BBC News. |
| Paul and Susan Otteson say they are fighting for justice for Greta and Arno | Paul and Susan Otteson say they are fighting for justice for Greta and Arno |
| For Paul and Susan, the pain is still very raw. | For Paul and Susan, the pain is still very raw. |
| Paul becomes emotional talking of his regret that they will never have grandchildren and that Arno will never come to Wales. | Paul becomes emotional talking of his regret that they will never have grandchildren and that Arno will never come to Wales. |
| "Everything that we've worked for over 40 years, it was all for Greta and Arno eventually, but now it's meaningless," he said. | "Everything that we've worked for over 40 years, it was all for Greta and Arno eventually, but now it's meaningless," he said. |
| Once the police investigation is concluded, Greta and Arno will finally be laid to rest. | Once the police investigation is concluded, Greta and Arno will finally be laid to rest. |
| The location is undecided, but the family said they would always be together. | The location is undecided, but the family said they would always be together. |
| Foreign Office minister Seema Malhotra said she was "deeply saddened" by the case and that her thoughts were with the family. | Foreign Office minister Seema Malhotra said she was "deeply saddened" by the case and that her thoughts were with the family. |
| "We know that methanol poisoning and counterfeit alcohol pose a serious, life-threatening risk to British travellers in some parts of the word. This is a deeply concerning issue and we are committed to helping keep people safe," she said. | "We know that methanol poisoning and counterfeit alcohol pose a serious, life-threatening risk to British travellers in some parts of the word. This is a deeply concerning issue and we are committed to helping keep people safe," she said. |
| "We are tackling this issue head-on, working with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners to raise awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning." | "We are tackling this issue head-on, working with local authorities and over 150 travel industry partners to raise awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning." |
| Additional reporting by Gareth Bryer | Additional reporting by Gareth Bryer |