British woman died in Bali after drinking posionous local spirits
A British woman died in Bali after accidentally drinking methanol she believed to be alcohol, a coroner has ruled.
Kirsty McKie, 38, was a UK national who lived and worked in Bali and ran a successful business as a talented ceramicist.
But after consuming the toxic substance on July 22 last year she soon became ill and was rushed to hospital, where she died from methanol poisoning two days later.
Following an inquest into her death, Coroner Alison Mutch has urged the UK government to launch a publicity campaign to warn Britons of the dangers of cheap spirit drinks which can be found in Indonesia and parts of south-east Asia.
Methanol is a chemically simple version of alcohol that can often be found in bootleg spirits. It can cause nausea, blindness, and death if consumed.
Ms Mutch, the Senior Coroner for Greater Manchester South, concluded the inquest in Ms McKie’s death in January, and has now published her findings in a report aimed at preventing future deaths.
A copy of the report has also been forwarded to foreign secretary James Cleverley for further consideration.
‘On 22nd July 2022 she had consumed what she believed to be alcohol,’ she wrote. ‘The following day she felt unwell.’
‘She went to a hospital in Bali where she deteriorated and died on the 24th July 2022 despite treatment.
‘Post-mortem examination included toxicology. It was found that she had methanol in her system which had caused her death.
‘Methanol is not meant for human consumption. She had inadvertently consumed methanol believing she had consumed alcohol.
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