Turkish soap opera star Ece İrtem died from alcohol poisoning, according to newly released autopsy findings that have put an end to speculation surrounding her sudden death.
The actress, best known for playing Işıl on the popular Turkish television series Cranberry Sorbet, died on June 15 at the age of 35—just one day after celebrating her birthday.
İrtem collapsed in front of her mother at her home in Istanbul, Turkey.
Initial medical evaluations suggested that she may have suffered a heart attack. However, an autopsy released on Thursday, July 9, officially determined that she died from ethyl alcohol poisoning, according to The U.S. Sun.
An examination conducted by Turkey’s Institute of Forensic Medicine found that İrtem had a blood alcohol level of 395 mg/dL, which is equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.395 percent.
That level was nearly eight times Turkey’s legal limit for driving under the influence.
Experts concluded that the actress died after consuming a fatal amount of alcohol in combination with prescribed antidepressants.
The autopsy findings also addressed rumors that İrtem’s death may have been linked to a monkey bite she suffered during a trip to Thailand in May.
Macaque monkeys can carry dangerous infectious diseases, including rabies and herpes.
İrtem’s attorney, Uğur Gökkoyun, confirmed that the actress was bitten by a monkey on May 27. However, the autopsy found no evidence that the incident played any role in her death.
Gökkoyun said İrtem was prescribed a 21-day course of preventative medication after the bite. She safely stopped taking the treatment after 11 days.
İrtem rose to fame in 2014 and appeared in a number of Turkish television programs throughout her career, including Yeni Gelin, Bay Yanlış, Mahkum and Cranberry Sorbet.
Just one day before her death, the actress shared what would become her final social media post, thanking fans for their kind birthday messages.
Comments have since been disabled on her posts, but friends and fans reportedly flooded social media with tributes following news of her death.
“I cannot find the words,” İrtem’s college friend Caglar Kuru wrote. “She was a person whose heart was full of love, energy, and happiness. Living through this pain is truly very sad.”
İrtem was laid to rest on June 17 at Yenikoy Cemetery in Kusadasi, along Turkey’s Aegean coast.