Thursday, February 13, 2025

January 23, 2025

Update: Autopsy Reveals The Cause Of That SA Musician & Fiancée’s Tragic Boxing Day Death In Vietnam

The pair had packed their bags for a new life in the lush Asian country and had just gotten engaged before their lives were suddenly cut short.

[Image: Facebook]

Just as the new year kicked off, news surfaced of the tragic deaths of a couple, South African-born Arno Els and Britain-born Greta Marie Otteson, who were found dead in Vietnam on Boxing Day.

Earlier this month we reported that Greta, 33, and 36-year-old Arno had been staying at the Hoi An Silverbell villa in Hội An, Vietnam before staff found their bodies in separate rooms when they came to clean the property on Thursday, December 26,.

Vietnamese authorities said that there was no evidence of ransacking at the scene and a forensic examination also showed no evidence of physical trauma or violence.

While their deaths remained speculative for some time, the autopsy results have just been made public, revealing that the death of Arno and Greta is confirmed to have been methanol poisoning.

“We are grateful to the Vietnamese authorities for their thorough and professional handling of this case. While the investigation is underway, 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, per News24.

“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.

Methanol is a form of alcohol commonly used in cleaning and industrial products like paint thinners, antifreeze, fuel, dyes and inks. Like the ethanol in alcoholic drinks, methanol is a clear, colourless substance – but it is toxic for humans and drinking as little as 30 millilitres can be lethal, per CNN.

Glen Bo, a close friend of Arno, told News24 that Arno and Greta 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’.

Complications from methanol consumption can take up to 24 hours for symptoms to appear, which can range from dizziness, nausea and vomiting to blindness, organ failure, and brain damage. Rapid treatment can reduce some of the effects of methanol poisoning.

Methanol poisoning outbreaks strike when this dangerous chemical finds its way into alcoholic drinks, whether by accident during traditional brewing or with the intent to make quicker, easier money from cheaper processing.

Every year, thousands fall victim to this deadly scourge. The majority of cases arise in Asia, where bootlegged liquor and homemade brews flow freely. In many Southeast Asian nations, lax safety standards, inconsistent regulatory enforcement, and rampant police corruption create the perfect storm for this silent killer to thrive.

Towards the end of last year, several young travellers made headlines after being found dead in their hotel rooms in Loas. They too had consumed the deadly version of cheap alcohol.

Greta, a digital strategist and social media manager, was discovered on a bed in a first-floor room at around noon local time, while Arno, a Durban-born musician and comedian, was found in another room with the door reportedly locked from the inside.

The pair had packed their bags for a new life in the lush Asian country and had just gotten engaged before their lives were suddenly cut short.

Friends said they were utterly in love.

[Source: News24]