The tragic case of a British mother who passed away shortly after arriving in Turkey for a family holiday has raised numerous questions, particularly concerning allegations that her body was returned without her heart.
What was intended to be a joyful family vacation for the Martin family turned into a devastating ordeal just four weeks ago.
Beth Martin, 28, felt unwell during the flight to Turkey and tragically died shortly after arriving, leaving behind her husband, Luke, and their two children.
Upon her body’s return to the UK, an autopsy reportedly revealed her heart was missing, prompting the family to allege that the hospital had taken it. They are now seeking answers about this distressing incident.
Beth, who hailed from Portsmouth, was married to Luke, with whom she shared two young children.
The family had flown to Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday (April 27) for what was intended to be a relaxing break, but Beth began to feel unwell during their flight.
A GoFundMe page set up for the family notes that Beth struggled to sleep upon arrival due to her condition.
The following day, she became ‘delirious’, and despite language barriers, Luke eventually managed to secure an ambulance to take her to the hospital.
Luke and their children followed the ambulance in a taxi.
The family described Beth as ‘not herself and scared’, but according to the page, Luke felt compelled to trust that the medical staff knew what they were doing.
Tragically, according to the GoFundMe page, it was the last time Luke and their children saw Beth alive. Her condition declined further the night of Monday (April 28), leading to her being moved into intensive care.
The page asserts that Luke was ‘banned’ from visiting her and received no updates, leaving him in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.
Upon receiving Luke’s call, both his and Beth’s mothers flew out to Turkey, heading straight to the hospital on Tuesday (April 29) in a frantic attempt to find Beth, only to learn she had been moved again due to cardiac concerns.
While they eventually located her room, access was reportedly restricted for hours, as per the GoFundMe account.
During this time, Luke was questioned by police at his hotel without a translator, allegedly facing accusations of poisoning his wife.
Luke claims that during the interrogation, he was compelled to sign a document that he later translated to reveal Beth had passed away at around 9am.
He then reportedly received confirmation of her death from the hospital. Following another police interview, Luke was reportedly ‘cleared’ of the poisoning allegations, with no further action pursued.
After being previously denied access, Luke was eventually allowed to see Beth’s body for a brief moment in the morgue, where he had to carry her through the hospital.
Despite the insurance company’s indication that repatriating Beth’s body could take weeks, Luke decided to pay out of pocket to bring her home promptly, as stated on the GoFundMe page.
The children and other family members returned to the UK on Sunday (May 4), and Luke accompanied his wife’s body home on Tuesday (May 6).
Once in the UK, a British coroner’s examination reportedly found her heart was missing from her body. The family claims the Turkish hospital removed it without explanation or consent, describing the act as a violation.
“They have invaded her body and they have TAKEN her heart. Her heart. The piece of Beth that was more treasured more than any other,” they stated, reflecting on the emotional significance her heart held.
The Turkish Ministry of Health, according to The Daily Mail, maintains that Beth died from a ‘cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failures’.
The statement clarifies: “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.”
“A preliminary autopsy [without incision] was performed at the hospital in accordance with the forensic case procedure and his wife’s request in this regard.”
“The exact cause of Martin’s death could not be determined with the current findings in the preliminary autopsy, which was carried out with the participation of the Public Prosecutor and the forensic medicine doctor.”
The Ministry asserts that Beth did not undergo any surgical operations at the hospital, and there was no removal of organs.
The hospital is reportedly under investigation for alleged medical negligence related to Beth’s death.
Meanwhile, British authorities may require up to six months to ascertain the precise cause of her organ failures, according to The New York Post.