Beth Martin, a mother of two from Portsmouth, England, has not returned from a vacation that began April 27 in Turkey. A sudden illness on the plane turned into a tragedy that shocked her family and set off a chain reaction, from allegations of medical negligence to accusations of attempted poisoning and a shocking revelation: her body was returned to the UK without her heart.

The journey began with her husband, Luke, and their two children, aged eight and five. On the plane, 28-year-old Beth complained of an upset stomach. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, and the next morning, Monday 28 April, she was found in a delirious state.

According to the Daily Mail, she was rushed to a hospital, where, according to family friends, she was “sedated, given invasive tests and no information was given to her husband”. On Tuesday, she was taken for angiography at another hospital, with no heart problem found. A few hours later, she passed away.

No update

The family is complaining of complete opacity from the hospital: no information, a ban on visits, and a refusal to cooperate with a private treatment facility covered by their travel insurance. The same reports say police turned up at the family’s hotel with a document stating that Beth had died at 9 am, while she was still on life support.

Luke Martin was provisionally charged with poisoning his wife before eventually being cleared. During his testimony, he reiterated that he had informed rescuers in time that Beth was allergic to penicillin.

Return without a heart

The final horrific surprise came with the return of the body to the UK. British coroners found her heart was missing, with the family claiming she had not been informed and had not given consent. Although Turkish authorities are allowed to remove organs for examination without consent, the fact that there was no notification raises serious questions.

Martin’s family and Beth’s friends have launched a campaign for accountability. Ellie Gray, a close friend of the deceased, complains that Beth “was not respected in life or death”. Robert Hammond, who created the GoFundMe campaign, describes in chilling detail the “hell” the family experienced – from the financial demands of the Turkish authorities to the transfer of the body by Beth’s own husband and mother.

Medical negligence investigation

The hospital that treated her is reportedly under investigation for medical negligence, while the family awaits the final results of the autopsy. However, the answers sought may take a while: it could take up to six months for the British Coroner’s inquest to be held.

The GoFundMe campaign has already raised over £150,000. Luke, in his pain, posted a touching message: “If there’s one thing you can keep from this, it’s to keep your loved ones a little longer. Never sleep with fights. Say you love them more often.”