Tragedy Strikes Popular Bali Backpacker Haven
A young Chinese tourist has broken her silence about a horrific mass poisoning incident at a budget hostel in Canggu, Bali, that claimed her friend's life and left dozens of other travellers fighting for survival in hospital.
Leila Li has spoken publicly for the first time about the traumatic events that unfolded at the popular $14-a-night accommodation, known for its party atmosphere and social vibe. The nightmare began on August 31 when travellers gathered for a communal dinner at the hostel.
Rapidly Deteriorating Conditions
Within hours of the shared meal, numerous guests began developing severe symptoms including violent vomiting, diarrhoea and high fevers. Ms Li and her friend, identified only as Miss Y, who shared a dormitory room, were among those struck by the intense illness.
"I managed to ask hostel staff for help and got taken to a medical centre three times, and then they called the ambulance for me," Ms Li told Daily Mail.
Her friend was too ill to move, trapped vomiting in her bunk bed for hours. Ms Li pleaded with staff to get medical assistance for Miss Y, but when she reached hospital herself and messaged her friend to join her, she never received a reply.
Ms Li spent five days fighting for her life in intensive care after being rushed to hospital. When she was finally discharged, she received the devastating news that her friend had passed away alone in the same bunk bed where she'd left her.
Avoidable Tragedy and Systemic Failures
Miss Y was discovered unresponsive in their room around 11am on September 2 - the day after Ms Li was hospitalised - and was pronounced dead at the scene. Disturbing CCTV footage from the hostel shows the door to their dormitory being taped off just two hours after her body was found.
The tragedy extended beyond the two friends. More than 20 people suffered collective poisoning, with at least ten in critical condition and one confirmed death, according to Ms Li.
Another tourist, 29-year-old Leslie Zhao, checked into the hostel on September 1 - the same day Ms Li and others were hospitalised - and claims staff failed to warn her about the outbreak.
"There were many people feeling ill and the hostel still accepted new bookings," Ms Zhao revealed.
Despite not consuming food from the hostel, Ms Zhao developed the same severe symptoms. "I got sick at midnight and asked the hostel to help me, but no one came," she said. "I fell down in the bathroom and stayed stuck on the ground until 11am the next day."
"I am very lucky. If I did not wake up, the police might have found two bodies in the hostel," Ms Zhao stated emotionally.
She was eventually rushed to hospital in critical condition and spent time in the ICU. "I almost died - I was taken away by ambulance, paid high foreign medical bills and when I came back to the hostel I didn't even get an apology."
Uncovering the Truth Behind the Poisoning
While some guests initially suspected a severe case of 'Bali Belly', Ms Li said her doctors confirmed something more sinister: pesticide poisoning combined with food poisoning.
"I went to the medical centre three times and each time my condition improved, but when I went back to my room to rest the symptoms would reoccur," she explained.
Ms Li alleges that Miss Y had mentioned seeing fumigation for bed bugs happening at the hostel around the time of the August 31 dinner. Inhalation of bed bug pesticides can cause serious symptoms in humans including vomiting, weakness and breathing difficulties, and can prove fatal without medical intervention.
Miss Y's official cause of death was declared as acute gastroenteritis and hypovolemic shock, though the specific source of contamination remains undetermined.
History of Problems and Ongoing Concerns
Negative online reviews indicate bed bugs had been present at the hostel for several months before the mass illness. A July 2025 review stated: "My only complaint was the front desk was not honest about the bed bug infestation."
Another reviewer wrote in June: "After staying here for one night I am absolutely COVERED head to toe in bed bug bites."
A British backpacker documented her similar experience in a TikTok video that gained 101,000 views in just six days. "What seemed like paradise quickly turned into my worst nightmare," she said.
Both Ms Zhao and Ms Li report being contacted by other tourists from Australia, Europe and Asia who fell ill during stays at the same hostel. "One girl stayed there a month after us and ended up in hospital fighting for her life," Ms Li revealed.
The hostel has since disabled comments on social media pages and stopped accepting new reviews about their venue.
Ms Li remains determined to warn other travellers: "The hostel are trying to cover it up and I just want to warn people so this does not happen to anyone else."
