Russian Tourist in Bali Suffers Severe Brain Damage After Suspected Methanol Poisoning

Anna Korostelyova, a 50-year-old tourist from Russia, was hospitalized in Bali after drinking red wine she and her partner bought from a roadside stall. According to the report, she and her boyfriend Igor arrived in Indonesia on May 31, and she was taken to hospital two days later, on June 2, after drinking two glasses from the bottle.

Her friend told Russian media that she began vomiting overnight and worsened by morning, with severe nausea, chills, painful sensitivity to light and difficulty breathing. On the way to the hospital, she started having seizures and lost consciousness. She has not regained consciousness since.

Doctors reportedly identified the suspected cause as acute methanol poisoning. Korostelyova was placed on a ventilator and underwent hemodialysis, but later developed kidney failure. Her latest EEG showed evidence of loss of brain activity, and a CT scan is expected soon to confirm or rule out brain death.

Igor, 39, did not drink the wine. Her medical bill has reached nearly 2.5 million rubles, about 100,000 shekels, and is still rising. A friend said Korostelyova’s mother is considering selling real estate to help pay, but the family hopes to avoid that. Toxicologist Mikhail Kutushov said another poison, such as ethylene glycol, could also be responsible, and stressed that if the bottle still exists it must be tested for traces of methanol. It is not yet known whether authorities have opened an investigation or sent wine samples for analysis.