Ece Gürel passes away in hospital

36-year-old landscape architect Ece Gürel, who went missing in Istanbul's Belgrade Forest and was found injured 4 days later, has passed away in the hospital.

Gürel, who was taken to Maslak Acıbadem Hospital after being found in a rugged forested area late last night, had suffered from hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to the cold, and her heart stopped for a period during her treatment.

After being resuscitated by doctors, Gürel was intubated and moved to the intensive care unit.

It was learned that Gürel passed away despite the interventions performed.

Following the delivery of the tragic news to the family waiting in front of the intensive care unit, there was activity in front of the hospital.

Relatives who came to the hospital to receive information and console the family waited in the hospital garden for a while.

Crime Scene Investigation teams arrived at the hospital, where extensive security measures were taken, and conducted an investigation.

Police teams also stayed with and attempted to console Gürel's mother, Gülşen Koçoğlu, and father, Muharrem Koçoğlu, as they waited for the procedures at the hospital to be completed.

Ece Gürel's body was taken from Maslak Acıbadem Hospital to the Forensic Medicine Institute morgue for an autopsy.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Gürel went missing after leaving her home in the Gültepe neighborhood of Kağıthane on Sunday, March 2, stating that she was going to the Belgrade Forest for a walk; a large-scale search operation was launched in the forest with the participation of numerous search and rescue teams following a report from her relatives.

Gürel's mobile phone and some personal belongings were found during the search efforts in the Belgrade Forest on March 4, and as a result of the teams' 4-day search, Gürel was found in a rugged forested area at 01:15 last night and was taken to Maslak Acıbadem Hospital.