The 28-year-old died while on holiday with her family.
One family has been left devastated after a 28-year-old woman died mysteriously while on holiday in Turkey, with her autopsy revealing that her heart is missing.
Beth Martin from Portsmouth was rushed to hospital after becoming ‘delirious’ just one day into a dream holiday with her husband, Luke, and two children, aged eight and five.
She was put into critical care but passed away a day after admission.
Additionally, after an autopsy in the UK, it was found that Beth’s heart was removed in Turkey after she passed away, that is according to a GoFundMe page set up by her family.
Her loved ones are now searching for answers around her death, with husband Luke saying he has suffered the ‘deepest level of trauma’.
He said having to tell his children about their mother’s death ‘broke him’ describing the heartbreaking incident as the ‘worst week of his life’.
Earlier this month, Luke took to Facebook to remember his wife.
“2 weeks ago me, my wife and 2 kids set out for a family holiday to Turkey. Only 3 of us made it back.”
“The harsh reality of coming home and the world’s still spinning as if nothing has happened is horrible. Realisation of becoming mum and dad, packing her clothes away for the last time, and the deafening silence when the kids are asleep.”
Furthermore, reportedly, Luke was accused of poisoning his wife by authorities and was interrogated by the police.
Subsequently, he was cleared with no further actions taken.
In further claims by the family, they said authorities made them carry Beth’s body in a bag through the hospital, and were then told they would have to wait over two weeks to repatriate her body.
Luke allegedly ‘paid thousands’ to have Beth flown home on the same flight as him.
There is currently no evidence that Beth Martin’s heart was illegally harvested.
Official advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) highlights that under Turkish law, coroners may take small tissue samples and organs for testing ‘without the family’s permission’.
“You will not automatically be told if this happens,” says the advice.
Organs will normally be returned before one’s body is released, however the FCDO added that ‘in exceptional circumstances, body parts might be kept without permission.’
Moreover, illegal organ trading is an ongoing issue in Turkey.
Turkish hospitals have previously faced accusations of stealing organs and practicing illegal transplants for wealthy people looking to get to the top of the queue.
The GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the family has already raised over £100,000.
The page’s organiser, Robert Hammond wrote: “In the weeks since bringing Beth home the family is battered and bruised.
“The UK autopsy began. And then the final blow: Beth’s heart was missing.
“The Turkish hospital has removed it. No explanation. No consent. They have invaded her body and they have TAKEN her heart.”
He continued: “And this is why we are fighting back. Luke has spent thousands. He’s self-employed, meaning that if he’s not back to work in a matter of days, he won’t be able to support his family.
“They are grieving, traumatised — and now trying to put the pieces of their family back together.
“After everything the family have been through – Luke believes passionately that this is something that cannot be taken lying down.”
