A dream holiday turned into an absolute nightmare for one British family after mum-of-two Beth Martin died suddenly at her Turkish hotel – and now they’re claiming authorities removed her heart without asking anyone’s permission.
The 38-year-old from Birmingham was just four days into a two-week break in Marmaris when she collapsed by the pool last Tuesday. What happened next has left her family reeling and demanding answers from Turkish officials.
“They’ve butchered my sister,” Beth’s brother Ryan told me, his voice cracking down the phone. We sent her body home to bury her properly, and the funeral director tells us her heart’s missing. Her actual heart. How the hell does that happen?”
Turkish authorities are having none of it, claiming everything was done by the book. But Beth’s family say they never signed anything allowing organ removal – and they’ve got the paperwork to prove it.
Beth had saved up for months for the all-inclusive holiday with her kids Madison, 12, and Tyler, 9. Her best friend Lisa was there when it happened: “One minute she was laughing about the bloke doing aqua aerobics in Speedos, next minute she just dropped. It was terrifying.”
Hotel staff called an ambulance, but Beth was pronounced dead at the local hospital. That’s when things get murky.
“They kept talking in Turkish, shoving papers at us,” Lisa recalls. “I don’t speak the language. I was in shock. I just wanted to get the kids home to their dad.”
The hospital insists they followed standard procedure for sudden deaths – an autopsy to determine cause. But Beth’s family say nobody explained that organs might be removed, let alone kept.
“My sister was healthy as anything,” Ryan fumes. “Yeah, she liked a drink on holiday, who doesn’t? But she’d just had a full health MOT for her new job. Clean bill of health.
The Turkish hospital director, Dr Mehmet Yilmaz, released a stiff statement: “All procedures were followed according to Turkish law. The British consulate was informed. We deny any wrongdoing.”
Right, but that doesn’t explain the missing heart, does it?
I spoke to Sarah Henderson, who had a similar nightmare in Egypt three years ago when her husband died on holiday. “They wanted to keep him for weeks, do all sorts. The consul was useless. In the end we paid £15,000 just to get him home.”
Beth’s family are now facing a £8,000 bill to repatriate her body – minus one vital organ. They’ve started a GoFundMe that’s already raised £5,600, with locals rallying round.
Beth was the life and soul,” says neighbor Pat. “Always organizing street parties, helping everyone out. For this to happen… it’s just not right.”
The Foreign Office says it’s “supporting the family and in contact with Turkish authorities” – which is diplomatic speak for “we’re looking into it but don’t hold your breath.
Meanwhile, Beth’s ex-husband Craig is trying to hold it together for the kids. They keep asking when Mummy’s coming home,” he told me. “Madison knows something’s wrong. She’s not stupid. But how do you explain this?”
A British funeral director who’s dealt with repatriations (and asked not to be named) reckons this happens more than people think. “Different countries, different rules. But removing organs without clear consent? That’s dodgy as hell.”
The Turkish tourism board must be having kittens. Brits spend millions in Turkey every year. Stories like this? Not exactly great for business.
Beth’s family want answers – and her heart back. “We can’t bury her properly without it,” Ryan says. “In our family, we believe you need to be whole to rest in peace. This is torture.”
They’ve hired a lawyer in Turkey, though God knows how much that’ll cost. The British embassy says it’s “liaising with local authorities” but can’t interfere in Turkish legal matters.
Translation: you’re on your own, mate.
What really stinks is the timing. Beth had just got promoted at work, the kids were doing brilliantly at school, and this was meant to be their first proper holiday since Covid.
“She was so excited,” Lisa remembers. Bought three new swimming cossies from Primark. Kept sending me photos of cocktails she was going to try.
Instead, her family’s planning a funeral – incomplete.
Turkish officials maintain everything was above board, that autopsy laws require organ examination in sudden deaths. But surely you tell the family first? Get proper consent? Or is that just too much common decency to expect?
The kids are staying with their dad while the family sorts this mess out. Tyler doesn’t really understand, but Madison’s been googling Turkish hospitals, trying to make sense of it all.
“No 12-year-old should be doing that,” Craig says.
The GoFundMe’s still climbing. Beth’s work colleagues at the call centre where she was a team leader have raised another £2,000. But money won’t bring her back – or her heart.
“Just avoid Turkey,” Ryan warns. “Seriously. If something goes wrong, you’re stuffed. They do what they want and you can’t stop them.”
The Turkish hospital still insists proper procedures were followed. The family’s still insisting they weren’t.
And Beth? She’s still missing her heart.
