British man dies after falling ill before Rs 1.73 lakh hair transplant procedure in Turkey

Indian Express

3 days ago

A British man died in Turkey after falling ill at a hair transplant clinic in Istanbul. Martyn Latchman, 38, from Milton Keynes, became unwell during the preparation stage of the procedure at Dr Cinik clinic and died later the same day, the clinic said. Turkish police have launched an investigation, as reported by The Guardian.
Latchman had previously worked as a teacher for 16 years and had recently taken up a job as a defence contractor. His family said he had travelled to Turkey for a second hair transplant, costing around £1,500 (Rs 1.73 lakh). He had earlier undergone a similar procedure at the same clinic last summer.
In a statement quoted by The Guardian, the clinic said: 'Prior to the second operation, all necessary medical evaluations and tests (including blood work, chest X-ray, ECG, etc) were carried out thoroughly and without omission, just as they were during the first procedure.'
It added, 'These assessments were conducted under the supervision of an anaesthesiologist, and the patient was cleared for surgery.
'However, before the hair transplant procedure began and during the preparatory phase, the patient unexpectedly became unwell for reasons that are still unknown.'
The clinic said emergency medical care was provided immediately, and Latchman was moved to a nearby university hospital for treatment. 'Despite ongoing intensive care treatment throughout the day, the patient sadly passed away later that evening,' the statement added.
Dr Cinik clinic also said reports that Latchman died during the procedure or that the operation had to be stopped were incorrect. 'The incident occurred before the hair transplant procedure had begun,' it said.
Latchman's body has been returned to the UK. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Latchman, originally from Bridgend in south Wales, had worked as assistant headteacher and head of computer science at Goldington Academy in Bedford until last year, according to his LinkedIn profile.
His friends and relatives shared tributes on social media. Yashley Latchman posted a photo with the caption: 'Rest in peace, my brother.' He wrote: 'You will forever be my source of inspiration and motivation. Thanks for everything. Will miss u loads.'
Dr Cinik clinic said it had carried out more than 70,000 hair transplant procedures. It is known for having international footballers as past clients, including Rio Ferdinand, Ivan Rakitić, Djibril Cissé and Rivaldo.
The clinic said all medical records related to Latchman's case had been shared with the authorities. 'Due to the ongoing legal process and out of respect for the family's privacy, no further details will be disclosed at this time,' it said.