Rescuers have found the lifeless body of Ghanaian soccer player Christian Etsu, 31, under the rubble of a residence in the Turkish city of Hatay, one of the powerful earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria last year. 6 February, as confirmed by Murat Uzunmehmet, the player’s representative in the Eurasian country. The international footballer for the Ghana national team and Turkish club Hatayspor has been missing since then. The striker, who also played for Porto, Chelsea, Malaga and Newcastle among other clubs, was trapped under the rubble of his home at the Roneson residence, where his relatives, who had moved to Turkey, followed for days rescue work .
Hatayspor’s manager Fatih Elek has stated that Atsu had planned to leave the club, and bought a plane ticket to France on the same day as the earthquake, but backed out of that plan after scoring a goal in the last minute of the match. moved away. Istanbul Kasımpaşa and canceled the trip. He “had a plane ticket, but he gave up going because he played well and scored. He was hit by an earthquake on his happiest day”, revealed Elek.
Atsu has been missing since the day before the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes that caused at least 45,000 deaths in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. Experts estimate that thousands of bodies are still buried under the collapsed buildings.
Hatayspor’s sports director Tanner Savut was also found under the rubble of the Ronsens’ residence, where Atsu lived, but rescuers have yet to locate him.
The Turkish Football Federation has approved the withdrawal of several nine-team leagues, including Hatayspor that played in the Turkish Football Super League, after losing players or suffering severe damage in the earthquakes.
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