logo
Tragedy as British woman, 24, dies after suffering a seizure while snorkelling off famous Indonesian beach

Tragedy as British woman, 24, dies after suffering a seizure while snorkelling off famous Indonesian beach

Daily Mail​4 days ago
A British woman has tragically died after she suffered a seizure while snorkelling at a popular diving spot in Indonesia.
The 24-year-old reportedly suffered signs of distress swimming in the Semangko Sea near the famous Pink Beach in East Lombok on July 30.
The young woman was diving with another person, both of them plunging around 50ft below the surface of the water.
But she then began convulsing as she re-emerged from the depths, sparking panic among the crew who battled to drag her back onboard.
She was still breathing as they rushed back to shore but was pronounced dead before reaching the local health centre.
Nikolas Osman, head of public relations at the East Lombok Police, said the woman was part of a tour group of 10 when the incident happened.
He said: 'At around 8:30 WITA, the group arrived at the first location, Gili Peteluan, for snorkelling. Then, at around 09:15 WITA, they continued to the second spot, Semangko Sea at Pink Beach, for more snorkelling activities.
'When she was about to return to the surface of the sea, the victim's condition suddenly became unusual, so her friend guided her to the surface.'
The police spokesman said the boat captain immediately headed for the Telong-Elong Pier, where an ambulance was waiting to take the woman to the Jerowaru Community Health Center. However, she died less than an hour later, at around midday.
Authorities said they were interrogating the crew and tourists present at the scene.
The Briton's body was being kept at the Bhayangkara Hospital for a post-mortem exam. Officials have not yet clarified the exact cause of her death.
In September last year, Chinese tourist Zhou Wei Gang, 61, died after swimming at Pink Beach.
The holidaymaker enjoyed the cool waters as he plunged to a depth of 82 feet for around 33 minutes before resurfacing. However, while on the boat trip home, he suddenly complained that he felt weak and dizzy. He then began vomiting before fainting.
Upon arrival on the mainland, a medical team found he no longer had a pulse.
Pantai Pink or Pink Beach in East Lombok, Indonesia, is famous for its rare pink sand created by a mix of white sand and red coral fragments. The area also houses beautiful coral reefs and vibrant marine life, making it a popular spot for divers.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

British man dies after hair transplant operation in Turkey
British man dies after hair transplant operation in Turkey

The Guardian

time13 hours ago

  • The Guardian

British man dies after hair transplant operation in Turkey

A former assistant head teacher from Milton Keynes has died after getting a hair transplant operation in Istanbul. Martyn Latchman, 38, who left a 16-year career in teaching last year to become a defence contractor, died last week after becoming unwell during the preparatory phase of the £1,500 procedure. The clinic involved, Dr Cinik in the Besikitas area of the city, whose former clients included the former England and Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand, said it was not known why Latchman fell ill. He was transferred to an intensive care ward in a nearby university hospital but died later that day, the clinic confirmed. Turkish media said police had launched an investigation. Latchman's body has since been flown 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.' Until last December, Latchman, originally from Bridgend in south Wales, had been the assistant headteacher at Goldington academy in Bedford, where he was also head of computer science, according to his LinkedIn profile. His online posts suggest he regularly ran and worked out at gyms. Latchman's family and friends paid tribute to him on social media. Yashley Latchman posted a photograph of him working out with Martyn 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.' Alain Latchman commented: 'Yes Yashley very sad. Too young.' Dr Cinik's website claims it has conducted more than 50,000 successful transplants. Its best known clients are international footballers. As well as Ferdinand, other former patients included the Croatian World Cup finalist Ivan Rakitić, the former France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé and the Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo. In a statement, the clinic said it was 'deeply saddened' by Latchman's death. It pointed out that he had a successful hair transplant last summer and had returned this year for a second procedure. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The statement 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. '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. 'Immediate medical intervention was provided, and he was urgently transferred to a fully equipped university hospital. Despite ongoing intensive care treatment throughout the day, the patient sadly passed away later that evening.' The statement added: 'Our clinic is an experienced medical institution that has performed over 70,000 hair transplant procedures to date. 'All relevant medical documentation related to this incident has been submitted to the appropriate authorities, and the matter is currently being investigated by judicial bodies.' It also denied reports in the Turkish media last week that Latchman died during the procedure or that the operation was interrupted. It added: 'The incident occurred before the hair transplant procedure had begun. Due to the ongoing legal process and out of respect for the family's privacy, no further details will be disclosed at this time.'

Brit tourist, 38, dies after £1,500 hair transplant op in Turkey as heartbreaking tributes pour in
Brit tourist, 38, dies after £1,500 hair transplant op in Turkey as heartbreaking tributes pour in

The Sun

timea day ago

  • The Sun

Brit tourist, 38, dies after £1,500 hair transplant op in Turkey as heartbreaking tributes pour in

A BRIT tourist has tragically died after undergoing a £1,500 hair transplant operation in Turkey. Martyn Latchman, 38, flew to Istanbul to have a five-hour operation on Monday at Dr. Cinik's clinic in the city's Besiktas district. 5 5 5 But shortly after the surgery, he became seriously unwell and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, according to Turkish outlet OdaTV. He is said to have suffered complications while undergoing the hair transplant procedure. His body was later taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy before being repatriated to the UK. Police have launched a probe, treating the case as a possible 'reckless homicide'. Staff at the clinic — including the surgeon who performed the hair transplant, the anaesthesiologist and nurses — have already been quizzed by officers, it is understood. An FCDO spokesperson told The Sun: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities." Tributes are now pouring in from friends and family for Mr Latchman, whose body has since been flown home. Yashley Latchman posted a picture of keen athlete Mr Latchman on Facebook with the pair working out in a gym. The caption read: "Rest in peace my brother. You will forever be my source of inspiration and motivation. "Thanks for everything. We will miss you loads." Other family members turned their profiles black in a sign of mourning for Mr Latchman, who was originally from Bridgend but lived in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. According to Dr Cinik Clinic's website, it has treated "more than 50,000 patients" since setting up almost 20 years ago. The website says the clinic has "cutting-edge technology" and is a "centre of excellence in this specialised field". It adds: "Every patient gets personalised care in English, plus access to cutting-edge techniques. "The combination of surgical experience and patient support has made him the go-to specialist for people worldwide." The tragedy comes amid a boom in 'medical tourism' to Turkey, which now accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the global hair transplant market thanks to its cheaper, high-quality procedures. Turkish Healthcare Travel Council says more than one million people travel to the country each year for hair restoration treatments. According to Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic, numbers are expected to climb to 1.1 million in 2025, the Daily Mail reports. It follows the shocking death of 58-year-old British mum Anne Towlson, who passed away last year after a botched cosmetic surgery trip to Istanbul. Mrs Towlson, from Leicestershire, had flown to Turkey in April 2024 for a pre-planned tummy tuck and liposuction at Green Park Hospital in Pendik. When she arrived, doctors persuaded her to also undergo an arm tuck in a 'last-minute decision', her inquest heard. But she quickly developed alarming complications. BOTCHED OP Meanwhile, a British man was left scarred and with bald patches after a botched hair transplant in Istanbul. Luke Horsfield, then 26, paid £1,250 for the surgery at the Clinic Centre — around half the cost of a UK procedure — but said the results were disastrous. 'I did everything they told me to do as aftercare once I had the operation. But after four months, I saw literally no growth,' the IT technician from Bradford said. 'I was left with scars and bald patches.' Luke claimed the surgeons barely spoke English and had removed too many follicles from the back of his head, leaving him worse off than before. Despite the clinic's promise of 'transplant after care', he said he struggled to get hold of anyone once the operation was over. After months of disappointment, the clinic eventually offered him a £400 refund — barely a third of what he had paid — and a second procedure at half price. Luke later had the damage repaired at a Yorkshire clinic.

Girl, 15, died from asphyxiation after eating pizza and chips and going swimming, inquest hears
Girl, 15, died from asphyxiation after eating pizza and chips and going swimming, inquest hears

Daily Mail​

time3 days ago

  • Daily Mail​

Girl, 15, died from asphyxiation after eating pizza and chips and going swimming, inquest hears

A teenage girl died from oxygen deprivation after eating pizza and chips then going swimming, an inquest has heard. Lucy Reed, 15, went to Cleethorpes for a day trip with her mother Liz and a friend when the tragic incident struck in June 2023. They went for an early lunch at a local restaurant and her mother urged her to wait a while to allow her food to settle before going in for a swim. But shortly after she insisted on going for a swim before boarding the coach home. Lucy went with her friend near Cleethorpes Pier while her mother went for a walk. They had arranged to meet back near the pier a short time later. But when she failed to turn up, a major search and rescue operation was launched for Lucy, from Gainsborough, after her mother alerted authorities and called 999. Rescuers found her later in the evening after more than three hours of searching. She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary but was sadly pronounced dead, the inquest at Grimsby Town Hall heard. Greater Lincolnshire senior coroner Paul Smith said her death was 'the unintended consequence of her swimming on a full stomach.' A post mortem examination by pathologist, Dr Justin Cooke at Hull concluded Lucy died from asphyxia after inhaling gastric contents as she struggled to find safety in the deep water with a falling tide pulling her further away from safety. She had struggled to reach the shore and vomitted, then inhaling the contents and passing out. The coroner concluded after a two-day hearing that her death was by misadventure. In his record of inquest, he added: 'Lucy Alexandra Reed died on 24 June 2023 in the River Humber at Cleethorpes as a consequence of asphyxiation. She had travelled to the coast for a day trip. She ate a substantial lunch and shortly thereafter went into the shallow water.' He added: 'The tide was falling and they rapidly found themselves out of their depth and drifting away from the shore. Neither were strong swimmers. After she had been in the water for approximately 30 minutes as Lucy tried to swim towards a point at which she could stand, she vomited, inhaling her gastric contents and losing consciousness. 'Although her death was not formally confirmed for several hours, on balance of probability it occurred within minutes of the incident described above. It was the unintended consequence of her swimming on a full stomach.' His conclusion highlighted the dangers of going into water after eating a substantial meal. After police checks as part of missing person procedures, the coastguard was alerted at 3.15pm. Beach Safety staff and Humberside Police carried out land-based searches. Mr Smith said: 'It is clear much was going on behind the scenes to locate her.' He said Lucy had ventured out of her depth in the water. Cleethorpes beach and waterside were busy, the coroner said. At 3.51pm The Coastguard Inshore Lifeboat was launched and the crew searched 500 metres on either side of The Pier. After an unsuccessful search a further search was commenced at 4.35pm. Rescuers attempted to establish the flow of water impacted by the wind, tide and weather conditions on the potential location of the teenager. The senior coroner said he accepted a Coastguard report which said looking out in the river without knowing where to look would have been futile. He said rescuers searched for more than three hours unsuccessfully. Mr Smith said at around 5pm information was passed to Humberside Police from a member of the public, who recalled seeing someone in difficulty about 600 metres off the beach at 2pm. The new information suggested a new search area further out into the river. The all-weather Coastguard Lifeboat was launched from Grimsby Docks, the inquest heard. 'Almost immediately she was found and was winched into the helicopter. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was given on the flight. But sadly her death was confirmed at the hospital,' said Mr Smith. He added the post mortem examination confirmed she had not drowned. But after eating a substantial meal before swimming, she had vomited and inhaled the contents of her stomach. The salt water may have been a contributory factor. He said the two friends were not strong swimmers fighting an out-going tide, but the friend managed to reach safety. Lucy had been in the water about 30 to 40 minutes by that time - an hour before a missing person report was launched. Mr Smith said: 'At 15 years, Lucy should have been safe and old enough to keep safe.' The senior coroner said The Coastguard and Beach Safety staff had received a total of 22 Missing Person Alerts within the same time in which Lucy was missing. Humberside Police had a similar volume of reports of missing people. 'An earlier search would not have lessened any delay,' said Mr Smith. He added: 'Her death resulted due to getting out of her depth and being taken deeper by the tide and she was unable to get back to dry land. She was in distress and as a result she aspirated. Her death was due to misadventure.' The senior coroner thanked The Coastguard for the quality and clarity of their evidence in reports and statements. To Lucy's mother, he said he could not imagine how the past two years since the tragedy had been for her and her family. 'After many years in my role, the fact never leaves me that there is nothing that I say will take away the heartache you go through. The best I can do is offer a wish that time gives you some relief.' After the hearing, a spokesman for The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: 'Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the tragic events of 24 June 2023. 'Incoming tides don't just come in from out at sea - they can also sneak up behind you and cut off your exit route, leaving you stranded and in danger. By knowing when it's high and low tide, you can make sure you'll get back in plenty of time without putting yourself at risk.' Around £1,000 was raised for the RNLI in memory of Lucy and her family and friends set up an appeal. For guidance on staying safe by the coast, visit

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store