Turkish authorities have concluded Portsmouth mum Beth Martin died from food poisoning during her family holiday, according to a new forensic report that found no evidence of traumatic effects.
Beth Martin, 28, tragically died after falling ill during a family trip to Turkey on 27 April with her husband Luke and their two young children, aged five and eight.
The mother from Portsmouth became “delirious” upon arrival in Istanbul and was rushed to Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, where she died approximately two days later.
Her devastated husband Luke faced the heartbreaking task of informing their children that their mother would not be coming home, whilst also dealing with accusations from Turkish officials who initially suspected him of poisoning his wife.
New forensic findings
A report released by Turkey’s Forensic Medicine Institution has now determined Beth’s cause of death. The findings stated: “It has been concluded that Martin’s death occurred as a result of food poisoning and its complications”.
The report found no medical evidence that Beth died from “traumatic effects” and confirmed that a complete examination of her heart had been undertaken.
The Turkish Ministry of Health had previously stated that Beth died from “cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure” without providing details about the underlying cause.
Heart removal controversy
The case became further complicated when British coroners discovered that Beth’s heart had been removed from her body without the family’s consent. Turkish authorities disputed this, claiming she “did not undergo any surgical procedures” during the preliminary autopsy.
The forensic report explains that Beth’s 350-gram heart was removed and preserved in formaldehyde solution for seven days to test for various conditions including congenital anomalies, heart muscle diseases, and inflammatory conditions.
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Family’s ordeal
Luke Martin described suffering the “deepest level of trauma” following his wife’s death. The family claimed they were kept in the dark about Beth’s condition and were even unaware for hours that she had passed away.
Writing on social media, Luke said: “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 fundraising campaign established to support the grieving family has raised over £260,000 from supporters worldwide.
The tissue samples from Beth’s heart and other organs examined during the autopsy are expected to be returned to British authorities through the British Consulate General in Istanbul.
