Christian Atsu SAVED from the rubble of the earthquake in Turkey but suffers from injuries
- Advertisement -
Former Newcastle and Chelsea star Christian Atsu has finally been rescued from a destroyed building following an earthquake in Turkey.
Atsu, who is believed to have disappeared alongside Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut, is injured but is now out of the building, club vice-president Mustafa Özat has confirmed.
Speaking to Radyo Gol, Ozat said: “Christian Atsu has been injured. Our sporting director Taner Savut is unfortunately still under the rubble.
He added: “Hatay was deeply affected. We are nearing the end of the most dangerous hours.
On Tuesday morning, Atsu’s teammate Kerim Alici, a close friend, also confirmed on Turkish TV that the player was rescued alive.
Christian Atsu, pictured here playing for Chelsea in 2016, is believed to have been rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey following a devastating earthquake
Footage from a rescue mission claimed that Atsu’s voice could be heard as it approached
More than 4,100 people have been killed and thousands more injured after the catastrophic earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria overnight Monday, flattening neighborhoods while families slept.
Footage shared on social media by Ajansspor shows a rescue team in Ekinci village in Adıyaman district.
It is claimed in the video that the voices of Atsu and Sporting Director Savut can be heard.
turkish newspaper Hurriyet detailed that there is an anxious wait to rescue Savut, the sporting director, with rescue teams navigating the rubble.
Hatayspor players Burak Öksüz, Kerem Alici and Onur Ergün, as well as team officials Ekrem Ekşioğlu and Osman Ateş, were rescued from the rubble on the first day, it was reported.
Thousands of people are known to have died after two massive earthquakes and dozens of aftershocks caused buildings to collapse in Turkey on Monday
Atsu (left), celebrating a February 2 goal for Hatayspor in a game against Kasimpasa
Atsu was part of the Newcastle squad that won promotion to the Premier League in 2017 after being loaned out for the season by Chelsea, and then made a permanent move. He also earned 65 caps for Ghana.
The Football Association of Ghana said on Tuesday: “We have received positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment. Let us continue to pray for Christian.
A post on Newcastle’s official Twitter account on Monday said: “Praying for positive news, @ChristianAtsu20.”
Atsu was in action for Hatayspor on Sunday, scoring a goal seven minutes into added time in a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa.
In a message after the match, he wrote: “Important victory for the team. Happy to be on the score sheet.
Newcastle had posted a message on social media in which they were ‘praying for good news’
Atsu’s most recent post on Twitter followed his club’s 1-0 win on Sunday in which the 31-year-old scored the winner seven minutes into stoppage time.
A search and rescue mission is underway to find those trapped under the rubble
The earthquake hit Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor is based, hard.
Hatayspor player Onur Ergun posted a story on Instagram in response to earlier reports that he misses to say they were incorrect.
“Thank you very much to everyone who called and asked,” said the midfielder. ‘The news is not true. I’m doing well.
‘I cannot answer the phone because there is a network problem. Get well soon for all of us.
Former Turkey international and Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel broke down in tears on social media as he begged the world to help his homeland after Sunday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
Demirel, who has made 63 senior caps for Turkey during his international career, took to Instagram in a live video on Monday morning to beg for his support.
Tremors from the deadly quake were felt as far away as Egypt, Lebanon and the island of Cyprus – and a tsunami warning was briefly issued by Italian authorities along the country’s coastline.
‘Help! I want you to send all the resources you have to the ecologist. It’s not just Hatay and Antakya, argued Demirel.
“Please, I’m asking you. Please, please, for God’s sake, people are dying here. For God’s sake…’
Despite starting the video in a relatively calm manner, Demirel quickly broke down in tears as he pleaded for help, appropriately capturing the grief and anguish his nation is experiencing after the earthquake.
Hatayspor manager’s wife Demirel shared a tearful message after a massive 7.5 magnitude aftershock hit southern Turkey hours after the original quake.
“Hatay is very bad”, Zeynep Sever Demirel said in a video shared on social networks.
Other missing Turkish athletes include 14 volleyball players from the Hatay team, handball international Cemal Kutahya and Hatayspor coach Savas Yukse.
Olympic gold medalist Taha Akgul said between 30 and 40 wrestlers from a Kahramanmaras-based team were also trapped under the rubble.