Ghana winger Christian Atsu has been discovered lifeless below the constructing the place he lived in southern Turkey after final week’s huge earthquake, his Turkish agent stated on Saturday.
Atsu, who was 31, had been lacking because the Feb. 6 earthquake following the collapse of an house constructing in Hatay province.
“Atsu’s lifeless physique was discovered below the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet advised reporters in Hatay. “At present, extra gadgets are nonetheless being taken out. His cellphone was additionally discovered.”
Antakya, town the place Hatayspor relies, is within the southern area of Turkey hardest hit by the earthquake.
Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours earlier than the quake, however Hatayspor’s supervisor stated Friday the Ghanaian participant opted to stick with the membership after scoring the successful aim in a Feb. 5 Tremendous Lig match.
Atsu joined Hatayspor in September final yr after spells with English Premier League golf equipment Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
We’re deeply saddened by the information Christian Atsu misplaced his life within the devastation of the earthquakes which have hit Turkey and Syria.
Our ideas and condolences are with Christian’s household and mates and everybody affected by this tragic occasion. pic.twitter.com/GLqXdd80Xl
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 18, 2023
“We won’t overlook you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, stunning particular person. There aren’t any phrases to explain our disappointment,” Hatayspor wrote on Twitter.
Newcastle additionally paid tribute on their official web site: “A proficient participant and a particular particular person, he’ll at all times be fondly remembered by our gamers, employees and supporters.”
Atsu received 65 caps for Ghana and helped them attain the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations remaining, the place they misplaced to Ivory Coast on penalties. He was final chosen to play for Ghana in 2019.
He joined Chelsea from Porto in 2013 and had a number of mortgage spells at golf equipment together with Vitesse and Bournemouth.
“Chelsea sends our heartfelt condolences to Christian’s household and mates and to all these affected by the earthquake tragedy,” the London membership stated on Saturday.
A day after the earthquake, experiences circulated that Atsu had been rescued following data that Hatayspor had acquired; nonetheless they later stated the experiences have been heartbreakingly mistaken and the participant was nonetheless lacking.
It had additionally stated the membership’s sporting director, Taner Savut, was nonetheless lacking. Savut has not been discovered.
The contractor of the 12-story Ronesans Rezidans constructing — the place Atsu and Savut lived — was detained at Istanbul Airport every week in the past, apparently making an attempt to go away the nation.
Greater than 45,000 individuals have been killed within the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, and the toll is anticipated to rise with some 264,000 flats in Turkey destroyed and plenty of nonetheless lacking within the nation’s worst fashionable catastrophe.
Data from Reuters and Related Press contributed to this report.
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