Turkish soap star Ece Irtem died from fatal levels of alcohol in her blood, not from a monkey bite, a post-mortem examination has revealed. The 35-year-old actress, best known for playing Isil in the hit Turkish soap opera Cranberry Sherbet, was found dead by her mother on June 16, a day after celebrating her 35th birthday.
Autopsy findings contradict earlier speculation
Before her death, Irtem had disclosed that she was taking medication after being bitten by a monkey while on holiday in Thailand. Her lawyer, Ugur Gokkoyun, confirmed the incident occurred during a trip to Thailand on May 27, and she began a 21-day course of preventative medication, which she safely stopped after 11 days. However, the forensic investigation found no evidence linking the monkey bite to her death.
The autopsy revealed 395 milligrams of alcohol per decilitre (mg/dl) of blood in her system, nearly eight times Turkey's legal drink-driving limit of 50 mg/dl. A blood alcohol concentration of around 395 mg/dl, or approximately 0.40 per cent BAC, is considered medically critical and close to levels that are frequently fatal.
Combination of alcohol and medication proved lethal
The forensic report also found therapeutic levels of prescription antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications in her blood and urine. Experts concluded that the combination of the exceptionally high alcohol level and the prescribed medication created a powerful depressant effect on her central nervous system, ultimately causing her breathing and heart function to shut down. The report additionally found that Irtem suffered pulmonary aspiration, meaning stomach contents entered her windpipe and lungs after she lost consciousness, causing her to asphyxiate.
Family and colleagues mourn the actress
After the post-mortem examination, Irtem's body was released to her father, Vural Irtem. She was later buried at Yenikoy Cemetery in Kusadasi, in Aydin province on Turkey's Aegean coast. Just one day before her death, the actress had celebrated her 35th birthday and thanked fans on social media for their messages.
Born in Sivas, central Turkey, Irtem graduated from Yasar University's Opera and Vocal Studies Department before training as an actress. She began her television career in 2014 and went on to appear in series including Runaway Brides, That's My Life, New Bride, Payitaht Abdulhamid, Mr Wrong, The Prisoner, Forbidden Apple and Cranberry Sherbet. Her sudden death prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans across Turkey's entertainment industry.
