Devastated Derbyshire family warn against cheap weight loss surgery abroad
Joe Thornley died in 2019 following a gastric sleeve operation in Turkey.
A devastated Derbyshire family are warning of the dangers of flying abroad for cheap weight loss surgery,
Joe Thornley from South Normanton died after going under the knife for a gastric sleeve procedure in Instanbul, Turkey in 2019.
The surgeon who performed the operation told the 25 year old's family he went into cardiac arrest 2 days after having the surgery, but a post-mortem examination in the UK revealed he died as a result of internal bleeding.
Joe's dad Michael says:
"He went the Monday morning. He text his mum on the Tuesday afternoon to say "I've had my operation but I still feel a bit ill, a bit groggy".
"His mum said ask them for painkillers and see what they say.
"We never heard anything then, after that".
Joe booked a £3,000 operation, to try and slim down his 22 stone frame.
The builder only made the appointment a couple of days before he jetted off.
Michael added: "He didn't want to be big Joe. He just wanted to be accepted by everybody".
Two days after the procedure in December 2019, Michael and his wife Julie were told by police their son was dead.
"Not worth the risk"
Michael warned: "It's just not worth it."
"In Turkey, there's far less aftercare than there is in England.
"You're monitored 24 hours a day in England and if you have a major surgery you're not sent home after 2 days.
"It's really not worth the risk at all".
4 years later, the couple haven't been able to hold anyone at the hospital accountable for Joe's death.