Mother's body returned to UK with ‘heart missing'
The family of a British mother who died of a mysterious illness in Turkey is demanding answers after her body was returned to the UK with her 'heart missing'.
Beth Martin's relatives were 'traumatised' when a post-mortem examination conducted in the UK revealed the 28-year-old's heart had been removed.
Turkish authorities have insisted, however, that no organs were taken during her medical treatment in their country.
Mrs Martin was with her husband, Luke, and her two children when she fell ill while on a flight to Istanbul late last month.
She is said to have put her sickness down to food poisoning from a 'dodgy Chinese' before becoming 'delirious' a day later.
Mrs Martin was eventually taken to Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital when her condition worsened.
Speaking in a video posted to Instagram, Ellie Grey, a friend of Mrs Martin, claimed: 'The insurance company wanted to move her to a private hospital, but the public hospital in Istanbul were not co-operating, they were being slow and delaying reports and not sending information over.
'They transferred her to another hospital to have an angiography done, but they said the heart was fine and transferred her back and still didn't transfer her to a private hospital. Then she died.'
Writing on a Go Fund Me page set up to cover medical costs, Robert Hammond, a family friend, claimed her family had been kept in the dark about the seriousness of her condition and had suggested doctors were unaware that Mrs Martin was allergic to penicillin.
He alleges she was left feeling scared while being 'pinned down' and 'prodded invasively' by medical staff.
Following Mrs Martin's hospitalisation, her mother travelled to Istanbul with Mr Martin's mother.
They were prevented from seeing Mrs Martin for hours by medical staff, however, Mr Hammond claimed.
Mr Martin was meanwhile being accused of 'poisoning' his wife by Turkish police, before being released without charge.
They are said to have interrogated him by using hotel staff as translators, before making him sign a document stating that his wife had died at 9am that day.
According to Mr Hammond, however, when Mrs Martin's mother was eventually allowed to see her she remained 'barely' alive.
That evening, he added, the hospital called Mr Martin and said that Mrs Martin had now died.
He is said to have been left 'reeling' while his children felt 'traumatised' by Mrs Martin's sudden death and the manner in which she had been treated.
Grey has alleged that the hospital failed to provide adequate treatment for her friend.
'They said they did 45 minutes of CPR but anyone who has ever had CPR or has seen CPR knows how brutal it is,' she said.
'When I saw Beth in the morgue after she had her hair in two French plaits and they were perfect. There is no way they did CPR for 45 minutes, I know that.'
Cause of death
Turkish Ministry of Health officials have said Mrs Martin died after a 'cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure' but did not explain its cause.
On Tuesday, Mr Martin flew back to Britain with his wife's body after breaking the news to their children that she had died.
A post mortem examination carried out in the UK revealed her heart had been removed.
Turkish officials have claimed Mrs Martin 'did not undergo any surgical procedures during her treatment at the hospital' and that there 'was no question of any organs being removed'.
Her family now have an uncertain six months ahead as they wait for a coroner's inquest to be held into the exact cause of Mrs Martin's death.
More than £250,000 has been raised for Mrs Martin's family via the Go Fund Me page.
'They are grieving, traumatised – and now trying to put the pieces of their family back together,' he wrote. 'Luke believes passionately that this is something that cannot be taken lying down.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Telegraph
How to avoid getting a slipped disc (and what to do if the worst happens)
Four weeks ago, Tom Hayes, 58, awoke in his hotel bed with his lower back in agony. 'It was pain I've never experienced,' says Tom, a TV producer, who was working in Turkey at the time. 'I've broken my leg and shattered my ankle in 10 places before and that wasn't half as bad. This pain was so much more extreme. I couldn't work out how to get out of bed and had to call a colleague a few doors down to help me.' Tom went straight to hospital where he learnt that what he was experiencing was a slipped, or 'herniated', disc. 'Knowing that it was just a really common, boring injury took the panic away,' he says. 'Until that point, I think I was in too much pain to be rational and really had no idea what it could be.' A month on, back home and off pain killers, he's feeling only 'mild discomfort' but still wonders how it happened. He hadn't done anything strenuous in the lead up, though he has suffered 'a slightly dodgy back' and intermittent pain for years. 'I'm not particularly unfit,' he adds. 'I walk and cycle but I don't do weights or yoga, or anything to make my back stronger. Am I culpable in that way?' What is a slipped disc? Around 1 to 3 per cent of people in Western industrialised countries will experience a slipped disc – they are twice as common in men than women – and most likely to occur between the age of 30 and 60. Although research teams are looking at stem cell therapy as a means of regenerating disc tissue and preventing degeneration, for now, slipped discs are primarily caused by inevitable age-related change. 'Discs are the spongy spaces between the bones in our back which act as shock absorbers and also enable us to bend,' says Mr Damian Fahy, spinal surgeon at the Fortius Clinic. They are commonly compared to jam doughnuts – with a spongy outside and a hydroscopic gel in the centre. 'After the age of 20, the material that discs are made from starts to change,' explains Fahy. 'It doesn't retain water as effectively and becomes dehydrated – like a stale crispy doughnut – and less flexible. When that happens, it could be that one awkward movement tears the outside of the disc and if it extends right into the core and the gel escapes, you've got a slipped disc. It can cause pain when the gel hits the nerve or because the gel itself contains a lot of chemicals.' In addition to age related decline, added risk factors are: Genetics: A family history can make this more likely due to genetic variations in the protein that the discs are made from. Smoking: It reduces blood flow to the discs and weakens the outer layers. Obesity: The increased load on the spine causes structural weakness. Being Sedentary: Sitting – especially slumping – for extended periods increases pressure on the discs. Certain activities: 'Heavy physical work that involves lifting, twisting and bending,' says Fahy. 'Disc injuries from certain gym exercises – like dead lifts and barbell squats – are also hugely common now. Rowing is high risk too because of the way it loads your spine while bending.' How to avoid a slipped disc 'We can't stop ageing or change our genes, but we can reduce our risk by not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight,' says Fahy. What else can we do? Avoid sitting for extended periods 'Take a break after 20 minutes,' says Fahy. 'It's not a great idea to stand all day either. If you have the option, a sit stand desk is best.' David Vaux, osteopath, healthy ageing expert and author of Stronger, recommends an ergonomic assessment for a working space if possible. 'Stretch out your glute muscles when you go to stand after being seated for a while and take a brisk walk at lunch time every day,' adds Vaux. Choose the right activities 'To prevent disc injuries, you want to build a strong core – and that includes the abdominals, the glutes and the back muscles so you have a corset going right around your body,' says Vaux. The multifidus muscle plays a key role here – a short muscle deep in the back that helps stabilise the spine. According to Vaux, the plank, the side plank and glute bridges are good core all-rounders in an exercise routine. If you're selecting an exercise class, Fahy strongly recommends Pilates. 'Pilates involves natural, functional movements that reach the deep muscles in the back,' he says. General cardiovascular fitness is important too. 'A lot of disc injuries happen when someone overexerts themselves when they're fatigued,' says Vaux. 'That's when you're going to start relying less on your muscles and more on your ligaments, tendons and joints, including the discs.' Build fitness slowly and sensibly. 'Don't sign up to hard classes or push yourself too quickly,' says Vaux. 'Spend three to six months getting generally more active – and if you're doing resistance training, use only your body weight. After you've progressed, you can move to something more challenging.' 'When building fitness, walking is good for the spine and swimming is excellent,' says Fahy. 'It doesn't load your spine and it strengthens the core and back muscles, especially front crawl and back stroke. Cycling is neutral – it doesn't help or harm your back. If you have a damaged back, running is high-risk because of the force when your feet hit the ground.' Learn to Lift ' We see a lot of disc injuries when people lift too much or use a poor technique,' says Vaux. 'Anyone who doesn't use their legs to lift is putting a lot of pressure on the discs in the lower back. Don't just bend at the hips. If you're gardening for instance, or have heavy shopping – or you're lifting weights – you should bend from both the hips and the knees so you go into a squat position.' Do the hard stuff first 'Don't do anything challenging or high risk when you're tired, recovering from a virus, or you've slept badly as you're at much higher risk of a disc injury,' says Vaux. 'If you're low on energy, do some walking or gentle stretching instead. If you're in the garden, don't dig up the big plant or load the wheel barrow at the end of the day. By then, you'll have lost your form and your posture. Do the heavy work first and end with the light weeding.' What to do if the worst happens? Most slipped discs heal over four to six weeks with rest, pain relief and gentle exercise. Over time, the slipped disc shrinks and stops putting pressure on the nerve. 'There's are no rigid rules around treatment paths as this has to be led by the patient and pain levels,' says Fahy. 'You can have a really big slipped disc that looks terrible on a scan but doesn't cause much pain and you can have a small slipped disc that's agonising. If you develop numbness or weakness, it means the nerve is being compressed and potentially damaged and that is something to take more seriously and accelerate.' In general terms though, treatment stages are: Stage 1. Take pain killers – paracetamol and ibuprofen – and rest. If it's pain like you've never experienced before, see a physiotherapist, osteopath or GP. 'Pain causes muscle spasm as a protective mechanism which is very painful so a therapist can break that pain cycle with gentle manipulation and massage,' says Fahy. Stage 2. If the pain doesn't settle, see your GP for stronger painkillers, and if after six weeks, you are not improving, see a specialist such as a spinal surgeon or pain specialist for an MRI scan. Stage 3. The first intervention would probably be a guided steroid injection, administered in an operating theatre or radiology suite. 'It doesn't make the disc normal but it takes the heat out of the situation,' says Fahy. 'It reduces the pain caused by the gel and also reduces the swelling and some of the pressure on the nerve. That enables you to do your physiotherapy exercises and manage while nature heals in the background.' Stage 4. If the injections have failed and the pain is unmanageable or you're developing progressive weakness, surgery is the next step. (The vast majority of slipped discs – 90 per cent – recover without surgery.) 'A microdiscectomy is usually done under a general anaesthetic with a small incision probably 2 or 3cm long,' says Fahy. 'The nerve that's under pressure is released and the escaped gel is removed.' Recovery depends on general fitness, age and access to rehab. 'My general advice is a half hour walk a couple of times a day for the first two weeks after surgery,' says Fahy. 'Week two to week six, if the skin has healed, you can swim, cycle and drive again and start gentle exercise ideally with a physiotherapist. After that you can start more strenuous exercise, including Pilates, with a full return to unrestricted activity in three months.' Surgery Risks Risk of nerve injury leading to weakness, numbness and pain in the lower back or one of the legs – 1 in 100 Risk of incontinence (ranging from partial and temporary to permanent) – 1 in 1000 Risk of infection from surgery – 1 to 3 per cent The disc can also slip again. The risk of this happening after surgery is 7 per cent. The risk without surgery is 9 per cent. 'If you have back pain, then experience numbness between the legs in the saddle area and difficulty with control going to toilet, that's an absolute emergency and you should go to A&E,' says Fahy. Very rarely, a slipped disc compresses the nerves that control bladder and bowel function causing Cauda Equina Syndrome. Unless they are released very quickly by a surgeon, they tend not to recover. Unfortunately, in the UK, the signs are often missed and the time from onset to surgery is in the order of weeks. By comparison, in Germany, it's in the order of hours. Five safe exercise to help you recover from a slipped disc Participating in movement that does not excessively load the spine can help us recover faster. Our focus should be on strengthening core muscles, improving flexibility, and promoting spinal mobility. Movements should be performed slowly and with control, avoiding any movements that cause excessive pain. Always get a diagnosis of your back pain from a health professional and ensure you check if you are unsure about what movements are right for your body. Considerations: Gradual progression: Aim to participate in movements once a week increasing to twice – if your pain does not worsen. Listen to your body: Some movements won't suit everyone. Avoid any movement that makes your back pain worse and stick to the ones that work for your body. Seek professional advice: If your symptoms worsen or you are unsure what movement is right for you always check with a health professional. When a health professional has told you it's ok to get a little more active, consider these movements: 1. Laying knee rolls Lying on your back with bent knees, gently drop your knees to one side and then the other, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Aiming for 5-10 rolls to each side. 2. Hip Bridge Lie on your back with bent knees, slowly lift your pelvis and back off the ground by tightening your core and glutes, front of your thighs in line with your tummy. Hold for one second and slowly return to the starting position. Repeat 5-10 times. 3. Cat – Cow Inhale deeply while curving your lower back and bringing your head up, tilting your pelvis up like a 'cow.' Exhale deeply and bring your abdomen in, arching your spine and bringing your head and pelvis down like a 'cat'. Repeat 5-10 times. 4. Laying Half Extension or Cobra Laying on your front with your hands facing the floor either side of your shoulders. Slowly push up so that your chest is off the floor, supported by your forearms and hands. Hold for one second and slowly lower to the starting position. Repeat 5-10 times. 5. Standing extension Standing with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent and hands placed on your lower back. Gently lean back, hold for one second and return to the starting position. Repeat 5-10 times.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Teen 'desperate to be famous' dies after dangerous viral 'dusting' challenge
Renna O'Rourke, 19, suffered a cardiac arrest after she took part in the dusting challenge with doctors being unable to save her and donating her organs following her death A teenager said to have dreamed of being famous has tragically died after doing the deadly social media "dusting" challenge. Renna O'Rourke, 19, from Arizona, US, sadly died on Sunday last week following a seven-day stint in a hospital's intensive care unit after she took part in the challenge that has spread online. Dusting, also known as huffing or chroming, involves kids inhaling aerosols, including items such as keyboard cleaners. Renna went into a cardiac arrest following the challenge and was declared braindead. Her father, Aaron, said Renna had always wanted to be famous and dreamed of being a star. Speaking to the AZFamily outlet, he said: "She always said, 'I'm gonna be famous, Dad. Just you watch. I'm gonna be famous', and unfortunately this is not under the most optimal of circumstances." Aaron and wife Dana shared what happened to their daughter in a bid to warn others. Dana said: "There's no ID required. It's odourless. It's everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test." Renna and her boyfriend used an app delivery service to get the cleaner sent to their home. Speaking to 12News, Dana said: "[Renna] and her boyfriend had Door Dashed product to my house and I didn't know. It's keyboard cleaner. I didn't know what they were doing with it. "We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can." Dr Randy Weisman of HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center told AZFamily: "This is extremely concerning. When they inhale these chemicals in the gas it will actually replace the oxygen within their lungs and within the rest of their body." Weisman said the challenge makes a person feel drunk or euphoric. He added that liver failure, heart failure and disease of the lungs were all possible. Following Renna's death, her organs went on to save at least six people's lives. Dana continued: "Through that we're finding strength and purpose. She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now." The family have created a GoFundMe page to cover medical and funeral costs. Since being launched, the fundraiser has amassed $10,456 (£7,727) in donations, far beyond its $5,000 (£3,691) target.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Great grandma stranded at hospital in popular holiday spot after horror incident
Catherine Harrison, 86, suffered a fall and fractured her back which has left her in extreme pain while needing treatment in Turkey during a holiday with her family A great grandma has been stranded in a hospital in Turkey after she suffered a horror accident during her holiday. Catherine Harrison, 86, was just two days into a visit to Antalya, Turkey, with her family when she fell in the shower and fractured her back. The fall left Catherine in extreme pain for several days before her family ended up taking her to a private hospital. Catherine's great granddaughter Amaya Harrison said: "She fell and landed on her back. My mum and her partner were there at the time and they brought her back into her bedroom and tried to put cold ice packs and cold sprays. "She was bed bound for three days so we had to send her to a hospital that was recommended by the hotel we were staying at. She's not really been able to talk because she's been crying in pain. But she's been telling us not to worry or stress, but I know she's the one that is stressing." Amaya added there were problems with Catherine's care at the first ward but that she was moved later. The 21-year-old added: "They are trying to feed her, going out and finding her food so hopefully it'll be okay." Amaya, her siblings and her mum's partner have returned to Manchester while mum Joanne stayed with Catherine who remains in hospital. Travel insurance was taken out for Catherine but not Joanne. The family has contacted insurance companies but they claim they were not given much "help or advice". The family, from Moss Side, Manchester, is now trying to raise £56,000 to bring Catherine home. "They're saying it's going to cost us £56,000 to get her home because she can't fly a normal commercial flight," Amaya told Manchester Evening News. "She has to be on a stretcher because she has to lay flat. She also needs a doctor because my Nana has loads of other healthcare conditions and it's a high risk for her to come home. "My mum is beating herself up because she can't be at home and she can't get Nana home. It's one of those hard, hard situations that we're trying to go through. We have quite a big family and my Nana is at the centre of it. She was the youngest of five children and she's the only one left. "A lot of us are panicking here in Manchester, trying to scrape pennies together to get her home. It has been hard, especially to my younger siblings, they don't really understand the severity of the situation as of yet. We're really just trying to get it together." The GoFundMe page has raised £3,470 out of the £53,000 target.
