An incident has emerged in Turkey, where the heart of a British woman was allegedly removed following her sudden death, according to media reports. The case has prompted an official investigation and scrutiny of a prominent Istanbul hospital.
The woman, identified as 28-year-old Beth Martin from Portsmouth, had travelled to Turkey for a holiday. A mother of two, Martin reportedly began feeling unwell during her flight from the United Kingdom to Istanbul. Believing it to be food poisoning, she dismissed the symptoms initially. However, her condition deteriorated rapidly after her arrival.
Within hours of landing, Martin reportedly became “delirious” and was admitted to Marmara University Hospital in Istanbul. She died on April 29, a day after she was hospitalised.
In the immediate aftermath of her death, Turkish officials reportedly suspected her husband, Luke Martin, of having poisoned her. According to a GoFundMe page set up by the family, Luke was initially denied access to see his wife’s body, but was eventually permitted to say his final goodbyes after “begging and pleading” with hospital officials.
In a deeply emotional message on the crowdfunding page, Luke Martin wrote: “It has been the worst and most traumatic week of my entire life, and to top it off… I had to break the news to my babies that their mum is not coming home. It broke me. Even more so when I had to say goodbye to them so they could be brought home by family.”
The case has taken a shocking turn following claims that Beth Martin’s heart was missing from her chest cavity. These allegations have added to the grief and confusion experienced by her family, and prompted widespread concern.
In response to the allegations and growing public scrutiny, the Turkish Health Ministry issued a statement confirming that Beth Martin had died of “cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure”. The ministry further asserted that she had not undergone any surgical procedures at the Marmara University Hospital.
According to the statement, Martin had been classified as a “forensic case” based on her husband’s assertion that they may have been poisoned by food consumed in the UK prior to their trip. As a result, a “preliminary autopsy [without incision]” was carried out “in accordance with the forensic case procedure”.
However, the ministry also admitted that the exact cause of death could not be conclusively determined through this procedure.
“The patient was recorded in the hospital records as a ‘forensic case’ in line with the statement of Martin’s wife that they may have been poisoned by a meal they ate in their country before the trip, and the initial findings,” the Turkish Health Ministry said. “A preliminary autopsy [without incision] was performed at the hospital in accordance with the forensic case procedure, but the exact cause of death could not be determined.”
Turkish authorities have since launched a formal investigation into Beth Martin’s death. Marmara University Hospital, where she was treated, is now under scrutiny.
The British Embassy in Turkey has not issued a public statement regarding the incident at the time of writing, but it is understood that the family is receiving consular support.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
