Turkish authorities conclude Beth Martin, 28, died from contaminated meal – but devastated husband Luke still demands answers over organ removal scandal
Turkish forensic experts have ruled that British mother-of-two Beth Martin died from food poisoning complications during her family holiday – finally releasing her heart back to UK authorities after keeping it for six weeks without permission.
The bombshell finding comes after the 28-year-old Portsmouth mum’s organs were secretly removed during autopsy, sparking international outrage and leaving her grieving family demanding justice.
Reported by Turkish news agency AA, the report said: “It was concluded that Martin’s death occurred as a result of food poisoning and its complications.”
The Forensic Medicine Institute’s examination found no evidence of trauma or foul play in what had become one of the most controversial tourist deaths in recent years.
It added that the examination of her whole heart had been completed and that all tissue samples of the heart and other organs examined will be delivered to the company appointed by the British Consulate General in Istanbul today.
Family’s holiday from hell
Beth Martin’s dream family getaway turned into an unimaginable nightmare when she fell ill on the flight to Istanbul on April 27, accompanied by husband Luke and their two children, aged eight and five.
Beth Martin, 28, from Portsmouth, became “delirious” on the first day of the trip and was placed in critical care.
Within 48 hours of landing in Turkey, the young mother was dead – and her traumatised husband found himself accused of murder by Turkish police.
The family’s ordeal was compounded when a UK autopsy revealed Beth’s heart had been removed without consent or explanation, sparking fears about organ trafficking.
Forensic findings reveal food poisoning death
The Turkish Forensic Medicine Institute has now concluded its investigation, determining that contaminated food was responsible for Beth’s sudden death.
With the forensic experts finding no evidence of trauma on her body, it found the arteries of Beth’s 350g heart were open ‘and no old or new obvious findings that could have caused were deserved.
The report said that her heart was heavier than expected in proportion to the mum’s age and weight. The organ was then removed and kept in a solution of 10 per cent formaldehyde for seven days for testing.
The extensive testing was conducted to detect any heart abnormalities, with experts examining the tissue under microscopes in what’s known as a histopathology examination.
It explains this was done to detect congenital anomalies in Beth’s ‘heart vessels, heart muscle diseases at the cellular level, electrical activity of the heart, rhythm disorders, heart valve diseases, abnormalities in the heart muscles that are not normally expected, and inflammatory diseases of the heart’.
Hospital accused of fatal penicillin blunder
Questions remain about whether medical staff administered penicillin to Beth despite being warned of her severe allergy.
Luke Martin claims he explicitly told paramedics about the allergy when his wife was loaded into the ambulance – but doctors appeared shocked when reminded hours later.
“The doctor asked if Beth had allergies,” the page states. “Luke had already told the paramedics when Beth got in the ambulance that she was allergic to penicillin. And yet when told again, they were shocked to hear this information — they had no idea and had been treating her for hours at this point.”
The family believes this potential oversight could have contributed to Beth’s rapid deterioration and death.
Husband’s ordeal: Falsely accused and banned from bedside
Luke Martin endured what he described as the “deepest level of trauma” after Turkish authorities accused him of poisoning his wife.
It was claimed on a GoFundMe page, Mr Martin was “banned” from seeing his wife and had not been updated on her condition as she was being cared for in hospital.
The grieving father was interrogated by police without proper translation and forced to sign documents he couldn’t understand – later discovering they accused him of murder.
In one of the most disturbing revelations, the family claims they were forced to physically carry Beth’s body through the hospital corridors.
They were told to carry Beth’s body themselves – in a zipped body bag – through the hospital. The family said: “The translator tapped away at her body bag. Like it was luggage. Like it was the briefcase of a businessman who’s late for a meeting. No compassion. No humanity.”
Turkish health ministry defends organ removal
The Turkish Ministry of Health has maintained that proper procedures were followed, though they’ve struggled to explain why the family wasn’t informed about the heart removal.
Beth Martin did not undergo any surgical procedures during her treatment at the hospital, and there was no question of any organs being removed.
However, Turkish law permits coroners to remove organs for testing without family permission in cases of sudden death – a practice that has shocked British tourists.
According to UK Government guidance, Turkish authorities can legally remove organs for testing during post-mortems without family permission – particularly in sudden or unexplained deaths. These are normally but not always returned, and families are not routinely notified.
Heart finally returned after six-week wait
After weeks of diplomatic pressure and public outcry, Turkish authorities have confirmed Beth’s heart and tissue samples will be returned to British officials today.
The organ had been kept in formaldehyde solution while forensic experts conducted their investigation into the cause of death.
It reportedly added the full examination of Beth’s heart had been completed.
Hospital under investigation as fundraiser tops £260,000
The Marmara University Pendik Education and Research Hospital, which has a dismal two-star Google rating, faces a negligence investigation over Beth’s death.
Beth’s family is questioning whether doctors at Turkey’s Marmara University Pendik Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul may have missed something or administered penicillin before discovering her allergy to the drug.
Meanwhile, the British community has rallied behind the devastated family, with a GoFundMe campaign raising an astonishing £260,000 to support Luke and his two children.
Father’s heartbreaking tribute
Luke Martin shared an emotional message about losing his wife and becoming a single parent overnight.
Two weeks ago me, my wife and two kids set out for a family holiday to Turkey. Only three of us made it back,” Luke wrote on social media on May 11.
I lost my wife, my children lost their mum, we lost the biggest piece of the puzzle that was our family.
“It has been the worst and most traumatic week of my entire life, and to top it off. I had to break the news to my babies that their mum isn’t coming home, it broke me.
UK investigation continues
British authorities have confirmed they are investigating the circumstances of Beth’s death, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office providing support to the family.
New York Post reported that tt may take up to six months for coroners in England to determine the cause of Martin’s organ failure.
The case has sparked renewed debate about tourist safety in Turkey and the need for clearer communication about post-mortem procedures that differ dramatically from UK practices.
Family vows to fight for justice
Despite the Turkish report attributing Beth’s death to food poisoning, her family continues to demand answers about the handling of her case.
They want to know why Luke was falsely accused of murder, why they were denied access to Beth in her final hours, and why her heart was removed without consent or notification.
The Martin family’s tragedy has become a cautionary tale for British tourists, highlighting the vulnerabilities travellers face when navigating foreign medical and legal systems during the worst moments of their lives.
