ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

Tradie, 25, dies from budget overseas weight-loss surgery

His mum wants to warn others, 'It's just not worth it' - by Kathryn Lewsey
  • 09 Mar 2020

A tradie tragically died just hours after having budget gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey.

Joe Thornley, 25, from Derbyshire, UK, shelled out just under $6,000 on the operation – which generally costs the equivalent of $19,700 in the UK.

Tradie, 25, dies from budget overseas weight-loss surgery

Just two hours after having the procedure, he messaged his parents saying he was in pain.

Later, his parents were informed that Joe had died.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Joe’s mum, Julie, spoke about her devastation and urged others to think twice before getting similar surgery overseas, saying, ‘It’s just not worth it.’

‘I don’t want another family to go through what we’ve been through.’

Weighing 22 stone (140 kilos), Joe had booked the op in order to lose weight and restrict his food intake.

He had booked the procedure at Medicana Bahcelievler in Istanbul just weeks before, and only told his family at the last minute.

Joe Thornley
Facebook

Julie explained, ‘He told me the day before. I told him I couldn’t stop him but that he didn’t need it.’

After the surgery, Joe had messaged his mum saying he was ‘in a lot of pain’ and she told him to ask for painkillers.

For the next two days, Julie and husband Michael, 57, didn’t hear from Joe. They assumed he was recovering until police turned up at Julie’s work with the heartbreaking news.

A death certificate in Turkey ruled Joe had died from ‘natural causes’ but a postmortem in Britain blamed internal bleeding after surgery.

Julie said, ‘He was a 25-year-old with his whole life ahead of him.

‘Now I can’t stop thinking of all the other young people who want a butt lift or want something doing to their face. I hope anyone considering this reads our story and doesn’t take it lightly.’

According to Australian Government site Smartraveller, each year over 15,000 citizens travel overseas for a procedure.

Although most don’t suffer serious complications, the website states, ‘unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned.’

It urges those who are considering medical tourism to gather all the information before you leave Australia – including researching the hospital, procedure and surgeon performing it – to ensure you make an informed choice.

  • News
  • Real Life
Kathryn Lewsey
Kathryn Lewsey
Kathryn is a Senior Features Writer for that's life! magazine. Her work has been published in The Sun, Daily Mail, Chat, Closer, Kidspot, Real People, Take a Break and MarieClaire.com.au

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

At 352kg Charity was once the world’s heaviest woman

At 352kg Charity was once the world’s heaviest woman

Aussie woman spent $32,000 to wear a bikini

Aussie woman spent $32,000 to wear a bikini

65kg gone: I was TOO FAT for Movie World

65kg gone: I was TOO FAT for Movie World

Woman’s dramatic transformation: how I lost 50 kilos

Woman’s dramatic transformation: how I lost 50 kilos

{headline}

{headline}

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

{headline}

{headline}

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

I SHAVED my head on my WEDDING day!

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

Born with no hands - but nothing will stop my boy

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

I LOVE the skin I'm in!

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!