'Cause of death' of mum, 28, whose heart was removed after dying on holiday
Beth Martin, 28, of Portsmouth, had jetted off to Turkey on April 27 with her husband Luke and their two young children, aged eight and five, looking forward to what should have been an idyllic break. Yet within a day of their arrival, she began acting erratically and was taken to hospital.
Despite being transferred to intensive care, she sadly passed away the following day, April 28.
Weeks on, a forensic report has surfaced purporting to clarify the sudden nature of her death. The report, from Turkey's Forensic Medicine Institution as covered by local news source Sozcu, suggests Beth succumbed to food poisoning with resultant complications and noted "no evidence" of any traumatic injury.
The document by the Forensic Medicine Institution states: "It has been concluded that Martin's death occurred as a result of food poisoning and its complications," reports the Mirror.
Moreover, it detailed that comprehensive evaluations of Beth's heart have been performed and samples of her cardiac tissue are being transferred to UK officials today.
The day Beth was rushed to hospital, her husband Luke Martin was reportedly barred from seeing his wife and received minimal information about her state. He later faced allegations of poisoning by Turkish police and was interrogated before being exonerated.
Luke shared the devastating task he faced on social media: "To top it off, I had to break the news to my babies that their mum isn't coming home. It broke me," he penned. "Two weeks ago, me, my wife and two kids set out for a family holiday to Turkey. Only three of us made it back. I lost my wife, my children lost their mum, we lost the biggest piece of the puzzle that was our family."
A GoFundMe page created by family members claims that the Martins were kept in the dark about how critical Beth's condition was, leading them to transport her body through the hospital in a bag. Facing a delay exceeding two weeks to repatriate her body, Luke spent thousands to fly her remains back with him.
It has been reported that doctors had expressed concerns regarding Beth's heart prior to her passing, yet her family asserts they were not informed. Relatives allege that a subsequent UK postmortem revealed her heart had been removed in Turkey without consent.
Recounting his harrowing experience, Luke labelled it as "the worst and most traumatic week of [his] entire life", noting that losing his wife has shattered his family beyond expression.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Superbugs could kill millions more and cost $2tn a year by 2050, study shows
Superbugs could cause millions more people to die worldwide and cost the global economy just under $2tn a year by 2050, modelling shows. A British government-funded study shows that without concerted action, increased rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could lead to global annual GDP losses of $1.7tn over the next quarter of a century. The research, by the Center for Global Development thinktank, found the US, British and EU economies would be among the hardest hit, prompting accusations that recent swingeing aid cuts are self-defeating. The Trump administration has confirmed $9bn in cuts to its foreign aid budget, while a number of European countries have also reduced spending on overseas aid. Anthony McDonnell, the lead author of the research and a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, said: 'When we conducted our research on the economic impacts of antimicrobial resistance, it was anticipated that resistance rates would continue to follow historical trends. 'However, the sudden cuts to Official Development Assistance by the US, which has cut its aid spend by roughly 80%; the UK, which has announced aid cuts from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income; and substantial reductions by France, Germany, and others, could drive up resistance rates in line with the most pessimistic scenario in our research. 'Even countries that have been successful in keeping AMR rates under control cannot afford to be complacent. Unless AMR programmes are protected from aid cuts, resistance rates across the world will likely increase at a rate in line with the worst-affected countries. This would result in millions more people dying worldwide, including across G7 nations. Investing in treatment for bacterial infections now will save lives and deliver billions in long-term economic returns. The research calculated the economic and health burden of antibiotic resistance for 122 countries and forecast that in this most pessimistic scenario, by 2050, GDP losses in China could reach just under $722bn a year, the US $295.7bn, the EU $187bn, Japan $65.7bn and Britain $58.6bn. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), deaths from AMR are expected to increase 60% by 2050, with 1.34 million people in the US and 184,000 in Britain alone predicted to die each year from antibiotic-resistant bugs, while numbers of those becoming seriously ill from drug-resistant bacteria are also expected to jump. Superbugs increase the number of hospital admissions and lead to longer and more intensive hospital stays, costlier second-line treatments and more complex care, meaning resistant infections are roughly twice as expensive to treat as those for which antibiotics are effective. The study estimates global health costs of treating AMR could increase by just under $176bn a year. Higher rates of resistant bugs would also shrink the British, EU and US workforces by 0.8%, 0.6% and 0.4% respectively, the study found. The Guardian
Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Holidaymaker dies suddenly on Greece beach after 'feeling ill' on sun lounger
A holidaymaker has died while in holiday in Crete after reportedly falling ill on a sun lounger. The 74-year-old British man was found unconscious around noon on Sunday at Stalis Beach, a well-known tourist spot on the Greek island. Concerned beachgoers spotted him and alerted emergency services, Mirror UK reports. Despite efforts by paramedics from the Hellenic National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB), he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. It is believed the man had been swimming shortly before returning to his lounger and it has been reported that he had a "strong feeling" of sickness shortly before his death. Authorities have not yet confirmed a cause of death and an autopsy is currently underway, according to local news outlet His death follows a series of recent tragedies involving British holidaymakers abroad. Just weeks earlier, a 73-year-old man was found unresponsive on a beach in Agia Paraskevi on the Skiathos Greek island. Despite a doctor spending 40 minutes attempting to revive him, he could not be saved. On June 12, a 68-year-old also died after losing consciousness while swimming off Lindos beach in Rhodes. He was rushed to a nearby health centre by the Central Port Authority, where he was pronounced dead. In Spain, another British tourist died in a suspected drowning after getting into difficulty during a late-evening swim at the popular Fuengirola resort. Bystanders pulled him from the sea and called emergency services, but paramedics were unable to revive him. Also in Spain, two tourists died in separate falls in the past two weeks. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cat owners warned that simple sneeze could be sign of grim illness
Countless animal species are recognised for sneezing, from chickens and dogs to elephants and even pandas. Yet, if you've noticed your cat sneezing more frequently than normal, you may be wondering what's behind it. Is it an allergy, a feline version of the common cold, or potentially something more concerning? Whilst sneezing is completely natural behaviour for cats, there are various reasons why they might develop an irritated nose. Specialists at Pet MD have put together a comprehensive list of possible conditions that could be triggering your cat's sneezes. They've also outlined when sneezing becomes worrisome and when a trip to the vet is necessary. Their website states: "If your cat's sneezing occasionally, it may just be part of the normal process to clear their nose and usually isn't concerning." If your cat is sneezing it could be a sign of an illness (Image: Alexandre Morin-Laprise via Getty Images) They continue: "However, if the sneezing is persistent or if other symptoms are present, it may indicate an underlying disease." Yet before drawing any hasty conclusions about your cat's sneezing, remember that distinguishing between a cat sneezing, coughing, gagging, reverse sneezing, hiccupping, retching, or wheezing can be remarkably challenging, reports the Mirror. Consequently, you may need to consult a veterinary professional to establish whether your cat is genuinely sneezing. The experts recommend filming your cat during a 'sneezing' episode to help the vet reach an accurate diagnosis. Five health conditions that cause cats to sneeze 1. Viral Respiratory Infections Herpesvirus in felines is chiefly recognised for triggering upper respiratory problems, including sneezing and discharge from the nose and eyes, with stress frequently exacerbating these symptoms. The feline herpes condition works in patterns, meaning a cat may bounce back from breathing difficulties and remain healthy for a while before becoming unwell again during stressful periods. Veterinary consultation is recommended if your cat displays these warning signs. 2. Bacterial infections Pet MD states that "Bacterial infections almost always play a secondary role in upper respiratory symptoms in cats", noting that yellow or green mucus from your sneezing cat's nose or eyes signals a bacterial infection due to this abnormally coloured discharge. Common bacterial culprits affecting a cat's nasal region include Bordetella, mycoplasma, and chlamydia, typically treated with antibiotic therapy. 3. Inflammation and irritation Cat sneezing can also result from inflammation, which often signals various underlying health conditions in felines. Treatment options may include oral steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation, whilst vets can investigate any additional health concerns that could be causing your cat's distress. 4. Foreign material Specialists have noted that "Inhaling a foreign material, such as blades of grass, can of course cause irritation in the nasal passages". "When these intruders are inhaled by a cat, the body's response is to sneeze to expel the foreign debris. While this approach might work for smaller particles like dust, larger objects are difficult for a cat to remove through sneezing." 5. Dental disease Dental disease can also be a surprising culprit behind your cat's sneezes. The roots of a cat's upper jaw teeth are located very close to their nasal passages. So, if there's an infection or inflammation in the teeth, it can break down the barrier between the tooth socket and the nose, leading to sneezing. However, if your feline friend is sneezing more than usual, it's wise to get them checked out by a vet as it could indicate various health issues. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
