On January 4, 2023, Demi Leigh-Regan Agoglia, a 26-year-old mother-of-three from Little Hulton, Salford, traveled to Turkey for a Brazilian bum lift surgery. Tragically, she died from an embolism, following what was described as 'woeful to completely non-existent' post-operative care.

The assistant coroner, Professor John Pollard, concluded that Ms Agoglia died of 'misadventure', which was 'contributed to by neglect'. He pledged to address the health secretary about the need to halt such 'barbaric' medical practices conducted at such low standards.

Ms Agoglia underwent the procedure on January 5, 2023, after which Prof Pollard criticized the lack of 'proper informed consent' and inadequate pre-operative procedures. He lamented the lack of cooperation from Turkish authorities during the coronial investigation.

Prof Pollard stated: "I do find the post-operative care varied from woeful to completely non-existent." By the time she was taken to the hospital following her collapse, she was already in an 'irrecoverable state'.

The inquest revealed that Ms Agoglia, who was usually healthy but diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder, had expressed doubts to her mother the day before her trip. Her mother, Christine Tydd, noted that her daughter insisted on going, driven by her insecurities regarding her appearance.

Ms Agoglia and her then-partner, Bradley Jones, arrived in Turkey on January 1, 2023, with plans to return on January 8—the day she passed away.

On the day prior to her death, Ms Tydd communicated with her daughter through FaceTime, recalling that Ms Agoglia was 'laughing and joking'. She commented on the surgery, saying, “apart from the bruise on her stomach, she had got the bum she always wanted.”

Mr Jones testified that Ms Agoglia discovered 'Comfort Zone Surgery' online and was determined to book the procedure, despite his reservations. She had been planning the surgery for some time and reserved it three months in advance.

The couple was accommodated in a 'residential villa' by Comfort Zone; they were later taken to Avrasya Hospital, where Ms Agoglia underwent surgery. After about four-and-a-half hours in recovery, Mr Jones noted she was 'shaking and very, very cold'.

The inquest revealed that when they returned to the villa, hospital staff attempted to warm her up using a heater beneath the bedsheets. Over the following days, Ms Agoglia showed signs of distress, complaining of a tight chest but was only provided a WhatsApp number to communicate with the hospital.

On the fourth day post-surgery, Ms Agoglia collapsed after struggling to stand. Despite attempts from Mr Jones and others to get help, the response from staff was inadequate, and she was transported back to the hospital in a taxi instead of by ambulance.

Upon arrival, she received CPR but ultimately passed away. Mr Jones reported that he was informed by doctors that all possible measures had been taken, but sadly, she could not be saved. He also noted deficiencies in the accountability of hospital staff and missing paperwork.

Dr. Omar Tillo, a consultant plastic surgeon, offered expert testimony, stating that Ms Agoglia's case was severely lacking in care. He expressed concerns over the absence of proper documentation and protocols surrounding her surgery, questioning whether informed consent had even been adequately given.

Dr Tillo highlighted the poor conditions in the villa, where unqualified staff were making critical decisions, and condemned the inadequate response encountered when Ms Agoglia collapsed.

The cause of death, identified through a post-mortem, was attributed as a 'microscopic fat embolism'. Coroner Pollard criticized the care Ms Agoglia received and noted that her transportation by taxi indicated a troubling lack of urgency in her treatment.

He announced intentions to write a letter of concern to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP about the systemic issues in such international surgeries, recognizing that these incidents occur frequently but lamenting governmental limits regarding overseas hospitals.

More than one million individuals travel to Turkey for medical procedures each year. Following the inquest, Ms Agoglia's sister, Chloe, urged others against pursuing similar surgeries. Prof Pollard summarized the case with a call for action: “This frankly barbaric medical practice being conducted to such low standards would certainly not be tolerated in the UK.”