This 21-year-old woman who had checked into a hotel for a romantic break with her boyfriend has been left fighting for her life after he claimed she took his gun and shot herself in the head while he was in the bathroom.

The incident took place at a hotel in the district of Konak in the western Turkish province of Izmir, a popular tourist spot famous for its ancient Greek and Roman ruins and palm-lined seaside boulevard.

It is not clear when the incident took place, but it was first reported on Sunday, 8th August.

According to reports, Senay Ay and her boyfriend Muhammet Sayin, 25, were in their hotel room chatting to one male and one female friend until late at night.

The two friends, whose identities have not been revealed, eventually left the hotel, and a gunshot was heard from the room where the couple was staying shortly afterwards.

According to reports, Sayin then went down to the hotel reception with his bloodied girlfriend in his arms, told staff that she had shot herself, and asked them to call an ambulance straight away.

Paramedics tended to the injured young woman before she was taken to hospital in an ambulance and operated on immediately after being admitted.

She is currently fighting for her life in hospital after having suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Sayin was arrested by the police and denied shooting his girlfriend while giving his statement. He told officers he was in the bathroom when he heard the shot and rushed out to find her covered in blood.

Swabs were taken from the suspect as part of the forensic investigation into the crime.

According to news site Sabah, Sayin told the cops in his statement that the gun belonged to him and that he carried it with him because he had “enemies”.

He has been taken into preventive custody as the investigation continues.