A family of four who were thought to have died from food poisoning during a trip to Turkey were ‘most likely’ killed by a chemical agent in their hotel, investigators have said.
The family had become violently sick at their hotel in Istanbul last Wednesday, just two days after travelling there from Hamburg, Germany.
It was originally believed that the family had died following a deadly bout of food poisoning after they had set out for the Besiktas district in the north-east of the city to sample local foods on November 12.
But a preliminary report from the Turkish forensic institute has demonstrated that the deaths of father Servet, 38, mother Cigdem Bocek, 27, and their two children, Masal, three, and Kadir, six, were most probably caused by chemical poisoning at the hotel, state broadcaster TRT reported.
The forensic institute is looking into reports of poisoning from chemicals used to combat pests in the Turkish hotel, and samples are now being analysed, according to the news channel.
Although the possibility of food poisoning being the cause of death has not been entirely ruled out, it is now thought to be unlikely.
The German family were transported to the hospital on November 12 after they had ventured out to try the popular street snack midye – a dish of stuffed mussels served with lemon.
They later ordered a mix of dishes at a local restaurant, including kokorec, made from calf intestines, and tavuk tantuni, a type of chicken wrap.
Before heading back to their hotel, the family indulged in some Turkish cuisine from a store in the Fatih neighbourhood.
However, the kids quickly began experiencing severe nausea and vomiting. Bocek and Servet began exhibiting the same symptoms while travelling to the hospital.
The taxi driver who took them has since revealed that they seemed ‘in a panic’ on their way to the hospital.
‘I tried to talk to the father. When I asked him what was happening, he replied: “We ate and drank something, and it probably affected us”. He said to me: “Please, take us to the nearest hospital”.’
He added that the young girl had been vomiting continuously, and that the mother appeared ‘semi-conscious’ during the ride.
Tragically, the two children died on Wednesday, Bocek lost her life on Friday, and Servet died on Monday following the sickness.
The grandfather of the children has demanded answers and asked whether others have fallen sick.
Another two tourists staying at the same hotel were hospitalised on Saturday after displaying symptoms of nausea and vomiting, according to BirGün newspaper.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday: ‘The investigation is currently being carried out comprehensively. It will be revealed what caused the deaths.’
Following investigations, 11 suspects have now been arrested, and according to the Anadolu news agency, arrest warrants were issued for four of them on Monday evening.
These included sweet vendors, stuffed mussels sellers, a kokorec vendor and a cafe owner.
This is a shocking tragedy – an innocent family wiped out by the careless use of poisons – no compensation or punishment could ever make this right, because it sounds like health and safety are nonexistent in Turkey, and for an entire family to die is simply tragic.
The irony of it all was that this was a Turkish family living in Germany who had just gone back for a holiday and died there. What a tragic fate.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 