Anne TOWLSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 31 May 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Anne TOWLSON aged 58. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 10 February 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that:

The cause of Mrs Towlson’s death was unascertained at post-mortem, however, on the balance of probabilities her death was caused or contributed to by the cosmetic surgery that she underwent in Istanbul, Turkey, in the weeks before death.

The cause of death was established as:

I a Uncertainained
I b
I c

II

Mrs Towlson was a 58 year old female who was found dead at her home address on 17 May 2024. Mrs Towlson travelled to Turkey on 24 April 2024 where she underwent a pre-planned tummy tuck and liposuction. On arrival at the hospital she was told she could have an arm tuck surgery as well and she opted to undergo that at the same time, this was said to be a “last minute decision”. Mrs Towlson’s arm wounds did not heal like the wound to her tummy did when she was found dead it was noted that she had open wounds to her armpits and triceps and her right arm was “swollen and weeping”.

Pre-amble

The inquest heard evidence that Mrs Towlson travelled by plane to Turkey on 24 April 2024 to have a tummy tuck and liposuction. She went straight to the Green Park Hospital in Pendic, Istanbul on 24 April 2024.

Mrs Towlson was informed on arrival that it was also possible to have arm tuck surgery at the same time as her planned tummy tuck and liposuction and she made a “last minute decision” to have arm tuck surgery as well.

Immediately post-surgery Mrs Towlson complained that her right arm was hurting and her compression garments were too tight, her right hand was said to have swelled up like a balloon and was seeping a clear liquid. She remained in hospital for three days before returning to a hotel on 27 April 2024.

Mrs Towlson returned to the hotel with a total of eight drains coming out of her body, she was leaking a yellow and slightly odorous fluid from her arms which would stain the hotel pillows. Mrs Towlson was using What’s App to communicate with the hospital whilst she was at the hotel.

Mrs Towlson returned to the hospital twice, once on 2 May 2024 because one of her drains had come out and the final time on 3 May 2024 to have the remaining drains removed. Mrs Towlson was given anti-biotics, anti-inflammatories, painkillers and a cream to take with her. She flew home to Manchester Airport on the same day, 3 May 2024.

From 4 May 2024 to the time she died Mrs Towlson’s internet search history shows that she was searching for things like “infected stitches symptoms”, “wound dehiscence” and “armpit yeast infection symptoms”.

On 7 May 2024 Mrs Towlson sent a video of her arm and armpit with a sticky yellow and white pus present at the site of the top of the arm tuck scarring to the hospital. They responded saying that they would show the video to a Doctor, that was the last What’s App communication received from the hospital.

On 11 May 2024 Mrs Towlson was seen by her neighbour and was communicating with her daughter, she told her daughter that her tummy was ok but her arm was “killing her”. Mrs Towlson made her last outgoing call on this date at 12:27hrs.

On 17 May 2024 Mrs Towlson was found dead and decomposing at home. Police attended the scene and took photographs which clearly show the tummy tuck wound healing nicely but show open wounds to Mrs Towlson’s armpits and triceps, her right arm was said to be “weeping and swollen”. The surgery to both arms remained unhealed.

A post mortem concluded that the cause of Mrs Towlson’s death was 1a) Uncertained.

Concerns

1) I am concerned about the fact that the inquest was unable to secure any information from the Turkish Hospital. We have no information about whether any independent enquiries were made either by the company who organised Mrs Towlson’s trip to Turkey for surgery, or the Turkish Hospital itself as to whether Mrs Towlson was fit for surgery. We have not been able to secure her medical records so have no understanding of what exactly the surgery consisted of, or what post-operative care and treatment was provided to Mrs Towlson.

2) I am concerned about the fact that we have no evidence to confirm whether Mrs Towlson was made aware of the risks and mortality rates associated with any of the surgical procedures she underwent in Turkey.

3) I am concerned about the fact that Mrs Towlson had travelled to Turkey to have a tummy tuck and liposuction but was offered additional arm tuck surgery when she arrived at the hospital. I have concerns about the consenting process for this additional surgery as, on the balance of probabilities, Mrs Towlson was not given enough time to properly consider this decision.

4) Whilst I appreciate the UK Government has no control over what happens abroad, I am concerned about the fact that British Citizens are travelling abroad for significant and serious surgical operations with seemingly little in the way of follow up and no way to return easily to the operating Hospital if they encounter complications once they are back in the UK. This is not only dangerous but could place a significant burden on the NHS.