Mother-of-two, 54, died in botched operation after going to Turkey

Mother-of-two, 54, died in botched operation after going to Turkey for gastric stomach sleeve surgery, inquest hears

  • Janet Savage, 54, had a gastric ‘stomach sleeve’ but never woke up after surgery 

A mother-of-two died in a botched operation after going to Turkey for gastric stomach sleeve surgery, an inquest has heard.

Janet Savage, 54, had travelled to the Ozel Rich Hospital in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya where it can cost between £2,000 and £6,000 to have the slimming procedure – and it often includes a hotel stay in Turkey.

But tragically, the glamorous mother from Bangor, North Wales, never woke up after undergoing the cosmetic surgery in August. 

An inquest opening heard that during the slimming procedure, surgical implements were placed inside Mrs Savage and her aortic artery was ruptured. Her condition deteriorated before she bled to death at 7.45am on August 6.

The inquest in Caernarfon, North Wales, was told Mrs Savage was identified by her husband Andrew.

Janet Savage (pictured) died in a botched operation after going to Turkey for gastric stomach sleeve surgery, an inquest has heard

An inquest opening heard that during the slimming procedure, surgical implements were placed inside Mrs Savage (pictured) and her aortic artery was ruptured

Her body was later repatriated and a post mortem examination was carried out at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire in Wales.

A pathologist gave her provisional cause of death as ‘acute blood loss due to an injury to the abdominal aorta (repaired)’.

Assistant North West Wales Coroner Sarah Riley adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed.

Mrs Savage had been employed by the Driving and Vehicles Standards Agency and was based in Bangor as an examiner. She had passed hundreds of drivers in her eight years as a driving test examiner.

In May, she had been promoted to ‘recruitment ambassador’ as an executive officer with the Government agency.

In a tribute following her death, Caernarfon Driving School said: ‘Just heard the sad news that Jan Savage one of our examiners at the Bangor Test centre has passed away.

‘Our thoughts are obviously with her family at this upsetting time.’

Just last month, a mother-of-three also died in a Turkish hospital after flying out for a £2,000 gastric sleeve surgery.


The mother had travelled to the Ozel Rich Hospital in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya where prices for such surgeries are advertised online as costing between £2,000-£6,000 – and often include a hotel stay in Turkey

Leanne Leary, 38, suffered two heart attacks and died after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in Istanbul on July 1.

If successful, the procedure would have seen Ms Leary remove 80 per cent of her stomach.

After several hours without contact following the operation, Ms Leary’s family were told by hospital staff, that the 38-year-old had suffered a heart attack but was in a stable condition. 

It is believed that her parents flew out to Turkey the next day but upon arrival they were told that she had suffered another heart attack which had proved fatal.

And in April, 28-year-old Shannon Bowe also tragically died while undergoing gastric band surgery – also in Turkey.

She is understood to have travelled to the Middle Eastern country to undergo the surgery. It is unclear at which medical facility she received the operation or what complications led to her death. 

Leanne Leary (pictured), 38, suffered two heart attacks and died after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in Istanbul on July 1 

Shannon Bowe (pictured), 28, passed away in April while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey

The NHS warns travellers to be extra cautious if making plans to have surgery abroad.

In a post online, it says: ‘Be cautious of websites selling cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday.

‘If you’re looking at holiday packages: make sure you have a consultation with the surgeon (avoid meetings only with sales people).

‘Do not pay for a hospital you have never seen.

‘Do not pay to see a surgeon you have not met

‘While it’s possible to have a holiday before surgery, it’s unrealistic to have one straight after as this can increase the risk of things going wrong.

‘You need to rest. You should not drink alcohol, lie in the sun, go sightseeing or go in the water.’

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