Two dead, one brain-dead after drinking at funeral

Duong Phuoc Dong, head of the intensive care and clinical toxicology department of the Kien Giang General Hospital, said the two patients suffered multiple organ failure and damage to the central nervous system due to methanol poisoning. Another patient is brain-dead, he said.

Five people had been admitted to the hospital with symptoms of alcohol poisoning three days earlier. Two of them are in stable health, the doctor said.

Nine other people who also drank at the funeral suffered milder alcohol poisoning and are being treated at smaller medical facilities.

"Alcohol poisoning can be mistaken for getting drunk as they have similar symptoms like headache, dizziness and vomiting," Dong said, adding alcohol poisoning can damage the nervous systems of the victims.

Over 150 people attended the four-day (November 2-5) funeral and drank around 100 liters of alcohol. Alcohol samples have been taken for analysis and results are awaited.

The person whose funeral was being held had also drunk at a party with friends and complained of chest pain and dizziness later. He died on November 2.