The body of former Ghana international Christian Atsu has been found after a huge earthquake in Turkey, local media reported Saturday, quoting his manager.
Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.
There were initial reports he had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false. His manager in Turkey, Murat Uzunmehmet, told DHA news agency on Saturday that his body had been found under the rubble in the Turkish southern province of Hatay.
Local media reported on Saturday that Christian Atsu, a former Ghanaian football player, has been discovered dead following a massive earthquake in Turkey. Atsu, who was 31 years old, was affected by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, leading to the deaths of over 43,000 individuals in both countries. Despite initial reports claiming that he had been rescued one day after the earthquake, these were later proven to be incorrect. On Saturday, Atsu’s Turkish manager, Murat Uzunmehmet, informed the DHA news agency that Atsu’s body had been located underneath the rubble in the southern Turkish province of Hatay.
“We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found,” Uzunmehmet told DHA.
After playing for Chelsea for four seasons, midfielder Atsu made a permanent move to Newcastle in 2017. In September, he joined Hatayspor, a team in the Turkish Super Lig. Unfortunately, Atsu’s body was discovered by search and rescue personnel at Ronesans Residence in Antakya city, Hatay, where he had been staying. The luxury apartment building had collapsed during the earthquake.
According to the state news agency Anadolu, the Turkish police detained the contractor responsible for the building at Istanbul airport last week, as he was seemingly en route to Montenegro.
