‘Butt-lift company blamed drugs for death’

A COMPANY that helped arrange a “Brazilian butt-lift” operation for a mother-of-three who later died from surgery complications claimed her death may have been caused by “illicit drugs”, an inquest heard.

Leah Cambridge, 29, travelled to Izmir in Turkey last August to have the surgery after seeing an advertisement on Instagram, but died during the operation, Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

Her partner, Scott Franks, told an inquest he was told the procedure was a “guessing game” when he flew out to meet those who conducted the operation.

Solicitors acting on his behalf also received a letter from Elite Aftercare, a company which acts as a go-between linking clients and surgeons, that falsely alleged Miss Cambridge may have died after taking “illicit drugs”.

Legal representatives for the company at the inquest said a toxicology report showed no trace of illegal drugs in her body and the line of inquiry was dropped.

Mr Franks said his partner had been keen to have the operation, which reshapes the buttocks by transferring fat from areas including the stomach and back, and had saved up thousands of pounds after he refused to pay for it.

The inquest heard Miss Cambridge’s mother, Theresa Hall, who accompanied her, was told her daughter had died during a “complication” in surgery.

Dr Lisa Barker, a consultant histopathologist for Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said Miss Cambridge died after fat entered her circulatory system, blocking the pulmonary artery to the lungs.

The inquest continues.