Melissa Kerr: British woman’s death after ‘Brazilian butt lift’ in Turkey prompts coroner’s warning
A coroner is to write to the health secretary over concerns people are unaware of the risks of having cosmetic surgery overseas, after a British woman died following a ‘Brazilian butt lift’ procedure in Turkey.
Melissa Kerr travelled to the private Medicana Kadikoy hospital in Istanbul for the operation, during which fat is harvested from other parts of the body and injected into the buttocks.
The 31-year-old died on the day she had the procedure – 19 November last year.
Ms Kerr, who was “conscious about her appearance”, had breast enlargement surgery a decade earlier without complications.
But she was only given “limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate” associated with the Brazilian butt lift, an inquest heard.
Ms Kerr, from Denton, Norfolk, died after injected fat entered a vein before moving and blocking her pulmonary artery.
Her cause of death has been recorded as a pulmonary thromboembolism, Norfolk’s senior coroner, Jacqueline Lake, said.
Ms Lake now intends to write a report to Health Secretary Steve Barclay to outline concerns after telling the inquest there have been a “high number of patient deaths in similar circumstances”.
‘Future deaths can be prevented by better information’
“I am concerned patients are not being made aware of the risks or the mortality rate associated with such surgery,” she said.
“I do have concerns there will be future deaths and I’m of the view future deaths can be prevented by way of better information.”
Ms Kerr’s death happened four years after mother-of-three Leah Cambridge died due to a fat clot caused by a Brazilian butt lift in Turkey in 2018.
The 29-year-old from Leeds travelled to a private clinic in the coastal city of Izmir for the operation after becoming paranoid about excess stomach weight gain, an inquest heard – despite being told by her partner she did not need surgery.
Leah Cambridge and her partner Scott Franks. Pic: Facebook
Patient underwent ‘limited assessment’ and did not see surgeon in advance
Ms Kerr arranged to pay £3,200 in cash for the procedure in a conversation with a hospital worker via WhatsApp.
She said she was “a bit nervous” before the operation and asked to see photographs of previous patients four times – but there is no evidence she was given them, the inquest heard.
Ms Kerr, a psychological wellbeing practitioner for the charity Mind, did not see a surgeon or clinician in advance and underwent a “limited assessment” prior to the procedure, Ms Lake said.
Consultant plastic surgeon, Simon Withey, who was asked to view evidence in the case and prepare a report as an expert witness during the inquest, said the death rate associated with Brazilian butt lifts is “likely to be in excess of one in 4,000”.
He said it is “quite possible” that, if the risks had been explained “before she was financially committed to proceed, she would not have done”.
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Recording a narrative conclusion, Ms Lake said Ms Kerr died after cosmetic surgery.
“There has been the release of an international alert to surgeons regarding the high mortality rate associated with this procedure,” the coroner added.
“There has also been the introduction of a voluntary moratorium (suspension of activity) on this type of procedure in the UK.
“These are clearly not being followed in Turkey.
“I don’t have any authority over hospitals in Turkey and I also appreciate the UK government has no control (over) what happens in other countries.
“However the danger our citizens will continue to travel abroad for such procedures continues, though citizens are unaware of the risks involved.”
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Ms Lake offered her sympathies to Ms Kerr’s family, who listened to the inquest via videolink.
On a JustGiving fundraising page set up after the tragedy, Ms Kerr was described as a “pure and beautiful soul” who was “passionate about helping others”.
Pakistan has launched attacks on “multiple targets” across India, according to the media wing of Pakistan’s military.
Pakistan said in a statement that retaliatory attacks are underway in response to what it called “continuous provocation” by India, which fired missiles at three air bases inside Pakistan.
“Multiple targets in this operation are being engaged all across India,” the statement from Pakistan Armed Forces (PAF) said.
Pakistan’s military said it used medium-range Fateh missiles to strike more than 25 military sites, including airbases and weapons depots in the Indian states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, as well as locations in India-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan’s military posted footage on X showing missiles being fired from what appeared to be a mobile launcher.
Pic: MilitaryPakISPR
The AP news agency also said loud explosions have been heard in India-administered Kashmir, in the disputed region’s two big cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and the garrison town of Udhampur.
Meanwhile, an Indian military source told Reuters that India has launched air operations in Pakistan, although no further details were given.
The operations mark the latest escalation in a conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals, triggered by a deadly attack last month in India-administered Kashmir.
Most of the 26 civilians killed were Hindu Indian tourists. India blames Pakistan for backing the assault, an accusation Islamabad rejects.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body which takes security decisions, including those related to the country’s nuclear arsenal.
State-run Pakistan television said three air bases were struck by India on Friday, although Pakistan insisted most of the missiles had been intercepted.
Despite the military offensive, PAF also posted a message on X in what appeared to represent an opportunity to de-escalate the situation.
“Now that a response has been given we hope the neighbour [India] will move to dialogue and diplomacy like Civilized Nations,” it said.
In recent days, both countries have launched a series of missile and drone strikes, although the scale and impact have been consistently questioned by each other.
On Wednesday, India conducted airstrikes on several sites in Pakistani territory. Pakistan said it shot down five Indian fighter jets.
On Thursday, India claimed to have repelled drone and missile attacks at military targets in more than a dozen cities and towns, including Jammu in India-administered Kashmir. Meanwhile, India claimed it struck Pakistan’s air defence systems and radars close to the city of Lahore.
A damaged house in Jammu, in Indian-administered Kashmir, after a Pakistani drone attack. Pic: AP
The Indian army said on Friday that Pakistan fired about 300 to 400 drones, targeting military installations along the western borders – a claim strongly denied by Pakistan.
The G7 group of advanced economies, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and Britain, urged maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan.
“We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome,” a statement issued on Friday said.
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World
European leaders to meet in Ukraine for ‘coalition of the willing’ talks – and issue call to Russia
Sir Keir Starmer will join other European leaders in Kyiv on Saturday for talks on the “coalition of the willing”.
The prime minister is attending the event alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, recently-elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
It will be the first time the leaders of the four countries will travel to Ukraine at the same time – on board a train to Kyiv – with their meeting hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Follow latest updates on the Ukraine war
Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz travelling in the saloon car of a special train to Kiev. Pic: Reuters
Military officers from around 30 countries have been involved in drawing up plans for the coalition, which would provide a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire being agreed between Russia and Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting on Saturday, Sir Keir, Mr Macron, Mr Tusk and Mr Merz released a joint statement voicing support for Ukraine and calling on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.
Sir Keir and Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in March. Pic: AP
“We reiterate our backing for President Trump’s calls for a peace deal and call on Russia to stop obstructing efforts to secure an enduring peace,” they said.
“Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.”
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Putin’s Victory Day parade explained
The leaders said they were “ready to support peace talks as soon as possible”.
But they warned that they would continue to “ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine” until Moscow agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
“We are clear the bloodshed must end, Russia must stop its illegal invasion, and Ukraine must be able to prosper as a safe, secure and sovereign nation within its internationally recognised borders for generations to come,” their statement added.
“We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine.”
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The European leaders are set to visit the Maidan, a central square in Ukraine’s capital where flags represent those who died in the war.
They are also expected to host a virtual meeting for other leaders in the “coalition of the willing” to update them on progress towards a peacekeeping force.
This force “would help regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces after any peace deal and strengthen confidence in any future peace”, according to Number 10.
World
Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say
Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.
The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.
Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.
An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.
It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.
On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.
The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.
The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.
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Explained: India-Pakistan conflict
Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.
India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.
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