Turkish soap star Ece İrtem dies day after 35th birthday

• Ece İrtem dies day after turning 35, lawyer confirms heart attack
• Actress collapsed at her Istanbul home in front of her mother
• Lawyer raises possible Thailand monkey scratch as alternative cause
  

Turkish soap actress Ece İrtem, best known for playing Işıl in the popular series Cranberry Sorbet, died of a suspected heart attack on Monday. She was 35, and her death came just one day after she celebrated her birthday.

According to The Sun, İrtem collapsed at her home in Istanbul in front of her devastated mother. Paramedics rushed to the scene and tried desperately to revive her, but she died at around midday.

Sudden collapse

Her lawyer, Uğur Gökkoyun, confirmed the death and gave details of what happened. "The incident occurred at her home while she was with her mother," he said, adding: "initial findings suggest she died due to a heart attack."

Just a day before her death, İrtem had posted on social media thanking fans for their birthday messages. Beyond Cranberry Sorbet, she was also known for roles in One Love, Payitaht Abdulhamid, Kurulus Osman, and the rom-com Mr Wrong, as well as several historical dramas.

Tributes pour in

Heartfelt tributes have flooded in for the actress, with friends describing her as full of warmth and joy. Caglar Kuru, a friend from university, said: "I cannot find the words. She was a person whose heart was full of love, energy and happiness. Living through this pain is truly very sad."

Monkey scratch claim

Rumours had circulated linking her death to alcohol and anti-depressant use, according to Turkey Today. However, her lawyer later put forward a different theory. Gökkoyun said İrtem had been travelling in Thailand shortly before her death and may have contracted a disease after being scratched by a wild monkey. Macaques are commonly found outside temples in Thailand and can carry infectious diseases including rabies and herpes.

Dr Mehmet Ceyhan, an infectious disease expert, dismissed the claim. He said other medical explanations seemed far more likely. The exact cause of İrtem's death has not yet been made public.

İrtem has been buried at Yenikoy Cemetery in her home province of Aydın. However, her funeral sparked controversy after several attendees were filmed taking photos and videos of her coffin. Footage of the moment went viral on social media. Fans criticised those involved, branding their behaviour disrespectful to the grieving family.