The mother of a tragic 20-year-old weight loss victim who was led ‘like a lamb to slaughter’ by a clinic has made it not only her mission to get justice for her daughter – but to make sure others don’t suffer the same fate.
Morgan Ribeiro flew to Turkey after being won over by social media ads for cheap gastric band surgery online – following years of bullying in school about her weight as she believed the procedure would be the answer to her problems.
After landing in the Mediterranean country, she was persuaded to have up to 80 per cent of her stomach removed by a slick marketing operation describing the procedure as ‘all natural’.
The childcare worker died a week after her gastric sleeve operation on January 5 after falling into septic shock whilst on the WizzAir plane home accompanied by her partner Jamie Brewster.
The plane was forced to divert its path to Belgrade in Serbia, where the 20-year-old would eventually pass away on January 13.
She thought it would be safe as it was organised by a company based in Switzerland called Global Medical Care, however her small intestine had been mistakenly sliced during the £2,500 all-inclusive surgery package.
Morgan’s mother Erin Gibson previously told MailOnline she was ‘disgusted’ by the marketing which led her daughter to book her procedure and accused the company of leading her on ‘like a lamb to the slaughter’.
Now the courageous mother has revealed it is her life’s mission to take on the ever-growing issues surrounding body image and social media – as well as trying to stop others from seeking surgery in Turkey.
Morgan Ribeiro was persuaded to have up to 80 per cent of her stomach removed in Turkey by a slick marketing operation describing the procedure as ‘all natural’
Morgan Ribeiro flew to Turkey to undergo a gastric sleeve operation after suffering years of bullying about her weight
Now her brave mother, Ms Ellen Gibson (pictured), is working hard to make sure others don’t suffer the same fate
‘I want justice. Not just for Morgan but for anybody else who has gone through this,’ she told The Mirror.
‘It’s wrong, it shouldn’t be happening. My daughter had her whole life ahead of her. It’s hard to adjust. Grief-stricken is an understatement.’
Telling how nothing could compare to the pain that comes with losing a child, she said: ‘It is incredibly mentally challenging and emotionally overwhelming. It is heartbreaking.’
Sitting in her southeast London home filled with reminders such as gifts from Morgan, her old football kit and a large canvas picture of her much-loved daughter, Ms GIbson told of how the youngster was looking forward to a ‘new life’.
Morgan had a new career on the horizon and was hoping for a new body too, however her hopes turned into a nightmare for her as well as her family and loved ones.
Despite being engulfed by her unimaginable grief Ms Gibson has not lost sight of her goal for justice, steadfast on spearheading her campaign to introduce Morgan’s Law.
She hopes the legislation would clamp down on the marketing of cheap cosmetic surgery packages in Turkey – which has become a wildly popular destination for cosmetic procedures in recent years – particularly those aimed at young people.
At least 29 Britons have died going under the knife in Turkey since 2019, according to the Mirror, with many more suffering complications in the aftermath, leaving the NHS with a bill of £5 million fixing botches procedures in the last three years.
Ms Gibson has been in talks with Labour House of Lords member Kevan Jones, who was the former MP for North Durham, about what can be done to fight against negative self-perceptions of body image.
Morgan’s boyfriend James Brewster (pictured with Ms Ribeiro) claimed hospital staff did not mention the dangers associated with going under the knife
The hospital where Dr Serkan Bayil is reported to have carried out the surgery on Morgan Ribeiro earlier this month
She previously told MailOnline: ‘I want things to change. My daughter was just 20. She didn’t deserve to die for £2,500. If I can’t stop it, I want to make it incredibly difficult for them to target vulnerable young people who don’t realise what they are getting into.’
The Mental Health Foundation advised in 2022 for an independent regulator to oversee social media and improve practice so that unhealthy messages and images aren’t promoted.
It also added that the Advertising Standards Authority should pre-check adverts from cosmetic surgery companies, weight loss products as well as services to ensure codes are being followed.
Desiring to be ‘as forceful as possible’ in bringing change, Ms Gibson believes it is important to teach children about body image and self-worth.
The mother also hopes new legislature will introduce restrictions on under 25s getting surgery abroad without parental or guardian consent.
‘[Morgan] wanted that success story, she chose the easy option and unfortunately she was sold a dream, and it cost her her life,’ the grieving mother tearfully shared.
Ms Gibson previously admitted that she had become estranged from her daughter in the six months before her death, but said she still loved her and would do anything to protect her.
She told how Morgan had started gaining weight after being bullied at her first secondary school, and had gone on several diets which saw her slim down, only for her to pile on the pounds again.
Ms Gibson said her daughter was led ‘like a lamb to the slaughter’ by the marketing which led her daughter to book her £2,500 all-inclusive surgery package
MailOnline has found that the firm is still trying to tempt in new clients with social media descriptions of gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey as an ‘all natural way’ to ‘kickstart your weight loss journey’
The company’s website shows glossy pictures of modern looking hospitals in Turkey which it deals with, but it does not include an image of the Medivita building
Without her knowledge, Morgan approached the NHS for help, and was told that she would be suitable for a potential gastric bypass surgery, but would have to wait two years.
She then began looking into paying for surgery privately, and bought her package from Global Medical Care, without her mother’s knowledge while living with her boyfriend’s family.
Morgan announced her fateful decision in her own TikTok video, saying: ‘My last post before WLS (weight loss surgery). See you on the other side.’
Her mother did not see the post because she had been blocked from her social media.
Instead, she only found out that Morgan was heading to Turkey for surgery when a family member told her that she was already on the plane to Istanbul on January 5.
Ms Gibson of south London said Morgan initially believed that her operation was going to be in Switzerland due to Global Medical Care being based there, making her think that it would be safer.
However an investigation conducted by a German broadcaster later found Global Medical Care was a mailbox at a rented property in Zurich Switzerland.
Dr Serkan Bayil, 52, who operated on Morgan in Istanbul, told the Mirror that Morgan was showing no signs of ‘leakage’ after her operation, and that he believed her death was due to an embolism.
Medivita, the hospital where the surgery happened, confirmed the doctor did not work at the establishment and had only rented the operating room.
The 20-year-old childcare worker who died a week after her gastric sleeve operation believed it would be safe as it was organised by a company based in Switzerland called Global Medical Care
In a last post on TikTok prior to her operation, Morgan told her friends she’d ‘see them on the other side’
Despite being engulfed in unimaginable grief, Ms Gibson is determined to get justice for her daughter by introducing tougher measures on getting cosmetic surgery abroad
A spokesperson for the hospital previously confirmed to MailOnline that it allowed surgeons working privately to conduct operations in its theatres, and that its nursing staff provided care to patients before and after surgery.
Ms Gibson said a representative from the hospital also told her in January 2024 that they had since stopped booking Dr Bayil to carry out operations on clients.
They added that they had only recently started using him and had considered him to be a ‘reputable’ surgeon with many years’ experience.
Revealing she no longer enjoys finds joy in simple pleasures such as dancing, or music. Ms Gibson heartbreakingly shared that she cries into her pillow ‘all day and all night’.
Although she knows her daughter would want her to be at peace, she doesn’t feel its possible to find happiness until her fight to save others from falling victim to such procedures as well as increased legislature is over.
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