Newsletters
Turkish forensic authorities are conducting detailed laboratory examinations on the heart of a 29-year-old British woman who died at a Turkish hospital last month, as investigators work to determine the exact cause of her sudden death.
Beth Louise Eileen Martin, who had reportedly suffered food poisoning before traveling to Türkiye, was admitted to Marmara University Professor Dr. Asaf Ataseven Hospital on April 28 and died the following day during treatment.
The Council of Forensic Medicine is now examining Martin's heart using internationally recognized scientific techniques after initial autopsy findings failed to reveal a definitive cause of death.
According to information obtained by the Anadolu news agency, the postmortem examination conducted on April 30 found no recent traumatic injuries or fatal damage to internal organs, soft tissues, or bones.
Investigators also discovered that Martin's coronary arteries were open with no signs of damage that could have caused death.
However, the heart's weight was higher than expected for someone of Martin's age and body composition, prompting authorities to preserve the organ for specialized analysis.
The heart has been preserved in a 10% formalin solution for seven days to enable comprehensive histopathological testing.
This process aims to detect potential congenital blood vessel anomalies, cellular-level heart muscle diseases, electrical activity irregularities, arrhythmias, valve diseases, malnutrition in heart tissues, and inflammatory conditions.
Forensic teams also collected microbiological, toxicological, and histopathological samples during the autopsy for additional laboratory analysis.
Martin's body was released to her husband, Luke Martin, on May 1, following the completion of the initial autopsy procedures.
The Council of Forensic Medicine expects to release its final determination on the cause of death within seven to 15 days as laboratory analyses continue.
Once examinations are complete, Martin's heart will be returned to her family through the public prosecutor's office, along with tissue blocks, slides, and any remaining samples collected during the investigation.
1 min read
