The mystery surrounding the sudden death of Turkish actress Ece İrtem, who was very popular in Turkey for playing the role of Işıl in the Turkish series “Kızılcık Şerbeti” and who died suddenly on 15 June, the day after her 35th birthday, for reasons that have so far remained unclear, has now been resolved following the publication of the final report from the Institute of Forensic Medicine. The document concludes that the primary cause of death was alcohol poisoning.
The unexpected death of Ece İrtem last month sent shockwaves through the acting world and Turkish society as a whole. Initial reports following the first forensic examinations suggested a possible heart attack as the cause of death, although it was noted even then that the definitive result would depend on the autopsy and forensic analyses. Speculation also arose linking the actress’s death to a monkey bite she had suffered during a recent trip to Thailand. However, the report published in the last few hours has finally cleared up all the unresolved questions.
The actress had a high blood alcohol level
As reported by the news channel CNN Türk, the forensic report drawn up following the post-mortem indicates that no signs of trauma, fractures or evidence of external intervention were found on the actress’s body; furthermore, the tests ruled out the presence of parasitic or viral infections, as had been suggested following the disclosure of the information about the incident in Thailand, and also confirmed the absence of narcotics, stimulants or volatile compounds, which had also been the subject of speculation.
The toxicological analysis did, however, detect a high concentration of ethyl alcohol in her blood. According to the conclusions issued by the Istanbul Institute of Forensic Medicine, the 35-year-old actress’s death was due to ethyl alcohol poisoning. The final report has already been forwarded to the Anatolia Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul.
Experts warn of the effects of alcohol on the human body
Following the release of the results about the death of the actress – whom security cameras captured her in their last images before her death in a restaurant and as she entered her home – several experts have spoken out in the Turkish media about the effects that heavy alcohol consumption can have on the human body. This includes the Turkish specialist in pharmaceutical toxicology, Ahmet Aydın, who explained that high doses of alcohol can put a person’s life at serious risk because this substance depresses the central nervous system and can disrupt essential bodily functions.
Professor Aydın stated that high doses of alcohol can particularly affect the respiratory system: “With excessive alcohol consumption, the central nervous system becomes depressed. This can disrupt the functioning of the respiratory muscles and lead to respiratory arrest”. In severe cases of alcohol poisoning, not only can the respiratory system be compromised, but also the heart and the circulatory system; in fact, heavy alcohol consumption can cause hypotension, a drop in body temperature and heart rhythm disturbances: a combination of effects that can prove fatal.
The actress’s lawyer reveals new details about her death
Ece İrtem’s lawyer, Uğur Gökkoyun, issued a statement in the last few hours – following the release of the autopsy report – stating that “it has been determined today, through the forensic autopsy report, that the cause of death of my client, who died at her home on 15 June 2026, was alcohol poisoning. It has also been established, based on her medical records and the unopened boxes of medication found in her home, that my client visited a healthcare centre in Thailand on 27 May 2026 after being bitten by a monkey, where she was prescribed a 21-day course of medication”.
“She stopped taking the remaining medication after 11 days. Given that many of our citizens travel frequently to countries in the Far East, it has been deemed appropriate to share this information with the public, as it has also been communicated to the authorities in charge of the investigation. We believe that my client, who was with her mother on the afternoon of the day of the incident, had been drinking alcohol in the time leading up to meeting her,” the lawyer’s statement concluded, according to the Turkish news agency İHA.
The Turkish TV series that made Ece İrtem famous both in and outside Turkey
Although this report appears to bring the official investigation into the death of the Turkish actress – who was laid to rest amid tears at an emotional funeral held on 17 June – to a close, the memory of the young actress, who earned widespread acclaim in Turkey for her role as Işıl in the series “Kızılcık Şerbeti”, continues to cause deep sorrow amongst her family, her co-stars and many others; particularly given the tragic circumstance that Ece İrtem passed away the day after celebrating her 35th birthday, as she herself had posted on social media, where she thanked all her loved ones for their birthday messages.
Born in the Anatolian province of Sivas on 14 June 1991, Ece İrtem graduated in opera and singing in İzmir and worked alongside internationally renowned artists, a background she combined with acting studies after moving to Istanbul. Her well-deserved popularity as an actress has extended beyond Turkey’s borders thanks to her roles in Turkish series that have enjoyed international success such as Kızılcık Şerbeti (One Love), Yasak Elma (Forbidden Apple), Yeni Gelin (New Bride), O Hayat Benim (That is My Life) and also in the film Meraklı Adamın 10 Günü (10 Days of a Curious Man). R.I.P.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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