The mum of a 20-year-old Brit who died after botched weight loss surgery in Turkey has said it is her life’s mission to get justice for her daughter - and to prevent others suffering the same fate. Morgan Ribeiro flew to Turkey in January 2024 after being lured by social media adverts offering cheap gastric band surgery. After the operation on January 5 she fell ill with septic shock on the plane home with partner Jamie Brewster and the flight had to be diverted to Belgrade in Serbia, where she died on January 13.
What had been a dream of Morgan’s after suffering bullying in her school years because of her weight, became a nightmare for the talented singer and all of her family. Her small intestine had been cut accidentally during the £2,500 procedure. In a powerful interview with the Mirror, brave mum Erin Gibson spoke of her determination to stop others travelling to Turkey for surgery and how she is intent on tackling the issue of body image in the social media age. Sitting in her front room in Anerley, south east London, pictures of Morgan adorn the walls. For Erin, there are reminders at every turn.
Two feet from where the 45-year-old sits stoically, on a shelf by the wall, lie a clean pair of pink football boots and shin pads, alongside a folded black kit - all worn by Morgan when playing for her school. A small teddy bear ornament rests on the fireplace, simply reading: “I love you, mum”.
