Beth Martin, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, died in mysterious circumstances on a family holiday in Turkey, and now the young woman’s family has shared their heartbreak
The grieving family of a young mum whose heart was removed after she died in Turkey has said there are “a lot of unanswered questions”.
Beth Martin’s autopsy in the UK showed the organ had been removed, a bombshell which has left her relatives desperately searching for closure. Her family is, instead, now “angry about what did or might have happened” to the 28-year-old woman, who became “delirious” days into her dream holiday with her husband Luke and their two young children Elouise, eight and Tommy, five, last month.
Luke, 31, was even accused of poisoning his wife by Turkish authorities, the family say. Now, his stepfather, Robert Hammond, has paid tribute to Beth, who he described as “brilliant in every way”. He continued: “Her death has left a hole that cannot be filled as well as a lot of unanswered questions.
“If these questions were answered it wouldn’t change the fact she’s dead but it would allow you to grieve rather than just feel angry about what did or might have happened.”
READ MORE: Beth Martin’s family ‘decimated’ after Brit mum’s death on holiday before horror autopsy result
Beth, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, initially fell ill on her flight out of the UK and her symptoms only worsened when they touched down in the holiday hotspot. She was rushed to hospital the next day where she passed away within hours.
Speaking to Mail Online, Robert continued: “It’s destroyed us, it’s destroyed everybody. Everyone around us, their lives are changing because this has decimated a perfect family unit. We’re a family so we all pull together to help each other but unfortunately everybody’s lives are affected by this.”
It “broke” Luke to have to tell his two young children they will never see their mum again. Writing on social media on May 11, heartbroken 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. 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.”
The father has also weathered huge medical bills, baseless police accusations and the indignity of her body being returned without her heart. The family has created a GoFundMe page to help cover costs, and it is now raised more than £180,000. In a post on the site yesterday, Robert said: “I can’t believe the generosities we’ve seen from all the posting, sharing and donating to this amazing family so far.”