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A man from Northern Ireland died and two of his friends became seriously ill after a dental treatment trip to Turkey, it is known.
The trio, who were described by their deputy as “three fit and healthy young boys”, were found in the Turkish city of Marmaris on Saturday.
The dead man was named Richard Molloy, 33. His two friends, Declan Carson and Aaron Callaghan, were in a coma, but their condition has now improved.
The men were in the country to undergo a teeth whitening procedure, sources close to them told The Guardian. There were unconfirmed reports that they had taken medication related to the treatment before being found unconscious in an apartment rented for their trip.
There is no indication that the medication was the cause of death or the fact that the other two men fell unconscious. The three men are from the Ardoyne district in North Belfast. Two were traveling on Irish passports, while the other had a British passport.
Turkey has a large medical and dental tourism industry, from teeth whitening to organ transplants and heart surgery, and in 2017 up to 700,000 people visited the country for medical procedures and operations, according to the Istanbul International Health Tourism Association. Turkey’s Association of Travel Agencies said that by 2023 it expected to attract 2 million health tourists to the country.
It is understood that at least one of the men’s families will be traveling through Liverpool Airport to be with their relative, while arrangements are made to bring Molloy’s body home.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Turkey and we are in contact with the Turkish authorities.” An Irish government spokesman said: “We are aware of the case and are providing consular assistance.”
Sinn Fein MP for North Belfast John Finucane described the tragedy as “absolutely heartbreaking” and said it had affected “three fit and healthy young people”. He added: “It is just a tragedy now that there is a family that is going to have to make plans to take their son home to bury him.”
SDLP Belfast Deputy Mayor Paul McCusker described the news as “disturbing and devastating”. Sinn Fein Councilor for North Belfast JJ Magee said the Ardoyne community was “in a state of shock”.
