Here is the confirmed information about the death of Khelisyah Ashamu in a Turkish hospital in Izmir, Turkey:
đź“° Overview of the Incident
Name: Khelisyah Ashamu
Age at Death: 26
Nationality: British/Nigerian descent (from Romford, UK)
The Independent
Location of Death: Hospital in Izmir, Turkey
đź“… What Happened
Khelisyah traveled to Izmir in February 2019 to undergo a gastric bypass surgery (a type of weight loss surgery) because she was struggling with her weight and unhappy with how her abdomen looked after a previous caesarean section.
She booked the surgery and related travel/accommodation through Get Slim in Turkey, a medical tourism company run by British expatriates. ďż˝
The operation took place on 1 February 2019. ďż˝
🏥 Medical Complications
After the initial surgery, she was in significant pain and underwent a follow-up exploratory surgery on 3 February 2019. ďż˝
During the recovery period, her condition worsened, and she suffered a cardiac arrest following the second procedure. ďż˝
She was placed in an induced coma but was later confirmed to be brain dead by doctors, and her life support was withdrawn. ďż˝
Khelisyah died on 9 February 2019 in the hospital in Izmir. ďż˝
The Independent
🧠Cause of Death
A coroner concluded her death was due to gastrointestinal ischaemia—a lack of blood flow to the intestines—caused by complications from the surgery she underwent. �
⚖️ Legal and Compensation Outcome
Her bereaved parents, Toyin and Oyebanji Ashamu, brought a legal claim in the UK against the operator of the medical tourism package, arguing that the agency was responsible for her care and safety. ďż˝
In 2026, a UK High Court judge ruled in their favor and awarded the family ÂŁ858,000 (about N1.5 billion) in compensation. ďż˝
independent.co.uk +1
The court found that there had been “inadequate post-operative monitoring and airway care” after the follow-up surgery and that the company organising the trip was responsible for ensuring proper medical care. �
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