Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
Topics: Health, Travel, UK News, World News, GoFundMe
Brenna Cooper
The family of British mother who died while on a family holiday to Turkey have released an update after reaching their GoFundMe target.
Beth Martin had travelled to Istanbul, Turkey with her husband Luke and their two young children - eight and five - on what was supposed to be a family holiday last month.
However, the Portsmouth mother became unwell on the flight, something which she initially blamed on food poisoning, with the 28-year-old reportedly becoming 'delirious' the following morning.
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She was taken to hospital in an ambulance, with her husband and children following her in a taxi. This is the last time she would be seen alive by her family.
Beth would then be transferred to another hospital where she would tragically pass away.
For Beth's loved ones, the nightmare didn't end there, with a close friend claiming that medical staff in the hospital had removed her heart without consent amid claims from Turkish medical staff that the mother of two had been suffering from a 'heart problem'.
The family's grief would increase after an autopsy in the UK concluded that her heart had allegedly been removed prior to repatriation.
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Beth's family have since accused Turkish authorities of 'negligence', setting up a GoFundMe to help cover the family's medical bills and potential legal costs.
The fundraiser has now reached its target of £250,000, with family thanking everyone for their support.
"The response from our local community, our city, our county, our country and in fact all around the globe has been exceptional," the update read, thanking everyone who'd shared, donated and shown 'this phenomenal family some love'.
Explaining how the money would be used to support Luke and his children in the aftermath of Beth's passing, the statement continued: "The funds are going to be spent on many things like day to day living expenses potential legal costs and the up bringing of the two beautiful children this tragedy has left behind.
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"So for now id like to say A massive THANK YOU x. We are all so grateful and each and every one of you are incredible."
Meanwhile, the Turkish Ministry of Health has since released a statement in response, claiming that Beth died from 'cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure'.
"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," the statement read, via The Sun.
"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.
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"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 statement added that Beth 'did not undergo any surgical procedures during her treatment at the hospital, and there was no question of any organs being removed'.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.