NEED TO KNOW
- British man Martyn Latchman, 38, died after he underwent a hair transplant procedure in Turkey
- Latchman from Milton Keynes, England, died in July after he became ill “for reasons that are still unknown” as he was being prepped for surgery, the Dr. Cinik clinic in Istanbul said
- Turkish health authorities are investigating, and an autopsy will be conducted
A 38-year-old British man died after he became ill “for reasons that are still unknown” as he was being prepped for surgery at Dr. Cinik clinic
A British man has died after he underwent a hair transplant procedure in Turkey.
Martyn Latchman, 38, from Milton Keynes, England, died in late July after he became ill during the preparatory phase of his procedure, according to reports from The Independent and the The Guardian.
Latchman traveled to Istanbul to be treated at the Dr. Cinik clinic, and The Independent reported that the medical facility said in a statement that he “unexpectedly became unwell for reasons that are still unknown” as he was preparing for surgery “before the hair transplant procedure had begun.”
He was taken to an intensive care unit at a local hospital but died.
Latchman had previously undergone a successful first procedure, and it was his second surgery at the at the clinic, according to The Independent.
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Latchman’s body has since been transported to the U.K. The local Turkish outlet OdaTV reported that health authorities are investigating, and an autopsy will be conducted, per The Independent.
“All relevant medical documentation related to this incident has been submitted to the appropriate authorities, and the matter is currently being investigated by judicial bodies,” the clinic added in its statement. “Due to the ongoing legal process and out of respect for the family’s privacy, no further details will be disclosed at this time.”
The clinic added that it was “deeply saddened” by Latchman’s death, per The Guardian.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office also told the outlets in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Latchman previously worked as a headteacher in Bedford, England, for more than 16 years before switching careers to become a defense contractor last year, The Guardian reported.
A number of Latchman’s friends and family members have spoken out about his death. In a post shared to Facebook on July 29, Yashley Latchman, wrote “rest in peace, my brother,” alongside a photo of the two spending time in the gym together.
“You will forever be my source of inspiration and motivation,” he wrote. “Thanks for everything. Will miss you loads.”
Dr. Cinik clinic, located in the Besikitas area of Istanbul, has had a number of celebrity clients in the past, including former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand, Croatian World Cup finalist Ivan Rakitić and the Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo (whose full name is Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira).
The clinic did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The facility’s website states that it has performed more than 50,000 successful transplants. According to the Turkish Healthcare Travel Council, more than one million people travel to the country each year for cosmetic hair procedures.