Woman who passed away with her fiancé after drinking limoncello sent a heart-wrenching final text message.
Woman who passed away with her fiancé after drinking limoncello sent a heart-wrenching final text message.
The victims were identified as 33-year-old Briton Greta Marie Otteson and her fiancé, 36-year-old South African Els Arno Quinton. The couple was discovered the day after Christmas, found on a bed in a first-floor room at a villa in Hoi An, a coastal city in central Vietnam. They had recently announced their engagement, and local authorities confirmed they had registered for long-term temporary residence at the Hoa Chuong villa.
Early reports suggest that the couple may have consumed a homemade limoncello, which was believed to have been tainted with methanol, a highly toxic industrial chemical. A source speaking to the Times stated, “Police forensics determined that the limoncello, which had been delivered to the villa, was the source of the poisoning.”
In the hours before their deaths, Greta sent a final heartbreaking message to her family. On Christmas Eve, she sent a WhatsApp message to her parents, describing what she believed to be the “worst hangover ever,” mentioning that she was seeing “black spots” in her vision. Despite feeling unwell, the couple declined an offer from a concerned friend to go to the hospital and decided to sleep it off. A source close to the families later remarked, “Sadly, I think it was too late by then.”
The following morning, hotel staff discovered Greta’s body, with Els found in a separate room nearby.
Quang Nam Provincial Police confirmed there were no signs of a break-in at the villa and that the victims’ personal belongings, including their phones, were untouched. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office also issued a statement, saying, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Vietnam and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Methanol, often used in products like fuel and solvents, is highly toxic and can be deadly in even small amounts—just 25ml can be lethal. Despite its dangers, methanol can sometimes be illegally added to alcohol to boost potency. It can cause severe health effects, including brain damage, blindness, and death, if not treated immediately.
The families of Greta and Els are determined to uncover the truth behind their deaths and have called for justice. In a joint statement, they said, “While the investigation is underway, procedural requirements and due diligence are being followed. Both families are working with the authorities toward our shared goal of holding those responsible accountable.”