28 February 2024 , 11:26
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Grieving mum Erin Gibson dressed in purple - her daughter’s favourite colour - as she took part in the funeral of her daughter Morgan Ribeiro, who died after surgery in Turkey.
She broke down during the procession which saw a horse drawn carriage take Morgan on her final journey past her childhood home in south east London, Anerley. The cortege passed by her primary school and her family church, before heading to Beckenham. Mum Erin told the Mirror the coroner for Croydon had informed her an inquest will be held into her death.
Morgan died on January 13 after paying £2,500 for a gastric sleeve operation in Istanbul. She was operated on January 5 and given the green light to fly home to Gatwick three days later, but the plane had to make an emergency stop in Belgrade, Serbia, where she died days later.
The Mirror was invited to cover the funeral this morning. Those in attendance included the 20-year-old's mum Erin and father Richard Ribeiro, both 44. Erin told the Mirror yesterday she had spoken to the coroner who had told her “it should never have happened”.
Morgan's mum Erin joined fellow mourners in comforting each other (Humphrey Nemar /daily mirror)
Dr Serkan Bayil denied botching Morgan's surgery“Her vital organs couldn’t cope, she said. “It wasn’t the case that they shut down and they no longer worked. It was that she was so riddled with poison that it just made everything stop.
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“She (the coroner) said it should have been prevented, it should never have happened. My poor child was riddled with poison and they still let her get on the plane. She was basically doomed before she had an emergency landing, from the moment she got on the plane.
“It’s absolutely tragic and that’s why the coroner has said an inquest is required - because this should not have happened.”
Erin previously called for social media posts advertising operations to come with details about the risks involved including deaths and injuries. She is also calling for cosmetic insurance to become compulsory. She said: “I would love for there to be a Morgan’s Law to come from this so it doesn’t happen to anybody else. Cosmetic tourism must stop.”
At least 25 Britons have died after medical tourism trips to Turkey since January 2019, the Foreign Office said. Morgan, 20, died just days after a gastric sleeve op in Istanbul. Her flight home had to make an emergency landing in Belgrade when she fell ill. Serbian doctors said her intestine was cut during the surgery in Turkey, which led to an infection.
The Mirror tracked down Dr Serkan Bayil, who performed the operation. He denied botching it, saying she suffered an embolism and insisted he did nothing wrong.
Heartbroken mum Erin broke down in tears as the coffin was lowered for cremation (Humphrey Nemar /daily mirror)Mourners lined the streets of south London earlier today on the heartbreaking final journey of the 20-year-old Brit. The parents, family and friends of Morgan Ribeiro wore purple clothes and ribbons - her favourite colour - as a horse drawn carriage led her past her childhood home, her primary school and family church before arriving at Beckenham Crematorium.
Mum Erin broke down as she first saw the carriage, carrying Morgan’s coffin and decorated in UK, Portuguese and Irish flags, arrive outside the funeral home before the procession began.
Morgan was carried into the cremation hall, which was packed with well-wishers, to the song Dancing in the Sky. Life Celebrant Sacha Ansell, conducting the service, described Morgan, one of five siblings, as having an “open and kind heart”.
A popular girl who “loved singing and cooking”, Morgan was remembered as “beautiful on the inside and out”. Little sister Becca read allowed in the service, saying: “We will remember you in the colour purple. I’ll remember you in the late night phone calls, I’ll remember you in my reflection…I’ll remember you as it was you who helped raise me.”
A horse drawn carriage took Morgan on her final journey past her childhood home (Matt Young)Inside the crematorium Morgan’s devastated father Richard Ribeiro and Morgan’s little sister Becca touched the coffin and said some final, private words. Heartbroken mum Erin broke down in tears as the coffin was lowered for cremation, crying: “Morgan I love you baby - I’ll see you again.”
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An inquest into Morgan’s death will be held, Mum Erin told the Mirror before the funeral. She said she had spoken to the Coroner for Croydon, who had relayed the message that her daughter’s death “should never have happened”.
Erin is now calling for a change in the law for cosmetic tourism to help prevent others suffering as her family now is.