A British woman and her fiancé tragically died in Vietnam after drinking contaminated homemade limoncello, police have said.
The couple, identified as Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and her fiancé, Arno Els Quinton, 36, were discovered dead in their hotel rooms on Boxing Day, just two days after consuming the lethal drink.
The couple, who were based in Vietnam and had recently celebrated their engagement, had gone out for dinner on Christmas Eve.
They later ordered two bottles of “homemade” limoncello from a restaurant to their hotel.
According to a source close to the family, Otteson later messaged her parents via WhatsApp, complaining of “the worst hangover ever” and describing “black spots” in her vision. But the pair reportedly decided to “sleep it off” rather than seek medical attention.
A source told The Times: “A local bar owner and a fantastic friend called over and wanted to take them to hospital but they refused. Sadly, I think it was too late by then.”
Staff at the Hoi An Silverbell Villa found Otteson’s body in her room, while Quinton was discovered in a nearby room.
Investigators later found empty bottles of limoncello in their rooms, and tests confirmed the couple had died of methanol poisoning, which police believe was linked to the homemade drink.
A source close to the family added: “Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source.”
The exact way methanol entered the bottles remains unclear. Methanol is a toxic chemical often found in improperly distilled spirits and can be fatal even in small amounts.
Otteson’s devastated parents, Susan and Paul, paid tribute to their daughter and her fiancé, describing them as a “loving couple with their life ahead of them.”
Paul said: “We were so happy she picked Arno. He was such a lovely boy. Arno was a great musician, composer, and lyricist.”
The couple had recently celebrated their engagement and were proud of their life in Vietnam, where they had purchased a second-hand bike.
Paul recalled fondly how Susan told Greta: “Make sure it’s red for Wales.”
The grieving father also vowed to seek justice for their deaths. “Our aim is to bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice,” he said.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed they are supporting Otteson’s family and are in contact with Vietnamese authorities. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the incident.
