Christian Atsu’s death in Turkish earthquake is confirmed

Lyndon Lloyd 18/02/2023 22comments  |  Jump to last

Former Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea player Christian Atsu is now confirmed to have perished in the massive earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month.

According to his agent, the 31-year-old was still missing after his team-mates, the club's vice president Mustafa Ozat, and the Ghana FA said that Atsu had been found and taken to hospital "with injuries".

However, these reports that the Ghanaian winger, who was in Turkey playing for Hatayspor in the Super Lig, had been pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital, were sadly proved to be erroneous.

He was found dead under the rubble of his collapsed apartment in the city of Hatay, his agent confirmed on Saturday, almost 2 weeks after two devastating earthquakes struck on 6 February.

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Atsu made 5 appearances for the Toffees in the 2014-15 season under Roberto Martinez during a loan spell from Chelsea and he also played for Malaga before joining the Magpies in 2016 where he made 32 league appearances.

Following a short stint in Saudi Arabia with Al Raed, he moved to Turkey last summer where he played 3 times and scored one goal.

 

Reader Comments (22)

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Tony Everan
1 Posted 18/02/2023 at 07:44:27
It's hard to comment. It's such a tragedy for his and thousands of families in Turkey and Syria. My heart goes out to them, I hope they get the support to rebuild their lives.
Colin Glassar
2 Posted 18/02/2023 at 08:29:52
May his memory be a blessing.
Bill Gienapp
3 Posted 18/02/2023 at 08:35:20
What awful, gut-wrenching news.
Ed Fitzgerald
4 Posted 18/02/2023 at 08:39:19
My thoughts go out to his family, the awful events in Turkey and Syria are a sobering reminder about the fragility of life.
Ajay Gopal
5 Posted 18/02/2023 at 08:42:25
I am still not sure if this is authentic news, although most news outlets are saying that his agent has confirmed his death. There have been so many flip-flops on this matter that I hope he is not dead.

In any case, this must be an unimaginable tragedy for millions of people in Turkey & Syria. One can only pray and hope that the world comes together setting aside ideological differences to help the affected people.

Christine Foster
6 Posted 18/02/2023 at 08:43:52
His death touches us by his connection to our club, it brings it home just how awful this tragedy is. My heart goes out to the country, both, and its people. He was one of ours.

God bless and keep them close.

Brent Stephens
7 Posted 18/02/2023 at 08:53:20
Terrible news, which really brings home what's happened in Turkey and Syria. One of tens of thousands to die – the scale of deaths is shocking.
Iakovos Iasonidis
8 Posted 18/02/2023 at 09:01:25
He had a flight booked to leave Turkey hours before the earthquake and the flight was cancelled. Unlucky guy.
Tony Abrahams
9 Posted 18/02/2023 at 09:13:27
Very sad news. 45,000 dead, is so incredibly sad. I just hope Christian, went quickly, and never suffered, because being buried alive must be one of the most awful of deaths, imaginable🙏
Neil Copeland
10 Posted 18/02/2023 at 09:27:35
Very sad. My heart goes out to his and all those families who are in absolute turmoil at the moment. RIP.
Bill Fairfield
11 Posted 18/02/2023 at 09:40:55
Deepest sympathies to all Christian's family and friends,and all involved in this awful tragedy.
Jack Convery
12 Posted 18/02/2023 at 09:48:56
Tragic news. He wore the Blue so he was one of us. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP Christian.

I believe it would be a good idea if EFC could arrange a friendly with Hatayspor as soon as possible to help raise funds for the victims of this awful event.

Mike Gaynes
13 Posted 18/02/2023 at 14:20:41
How terribly sad. And after he'd originally been reported to have been rescued from the rubble. As Jack says, once a Blue, always a Blue.

Iakovos #8, the reports I've read say it was Atsu who cancelled his trip. He decided not to take that flight because, after barely playing a minute for Hatayspor this season, he had come off the bench in the 90th minute of their Feb. 5 game against Kasimpasa and scored the game-winning goal in the 97th minute on a skipping free kick. (You can find it on YouTube.)

His manager says he decided to stay with the club as a result, and spent most of the night celebrating by playing poker with friends. He returned to his building around 4am on Feb. 6, just minutes before the quake.

Will Mabon
14 Posted 18/02/2023 at 18:27:51
Mike, yes. The thought of his family suffering that report and the false hope, to add to their pain. Very sad.
Kieran Kinsella
15 Posted 19/02/2023 at 01:05:09
Tony

Awfully, there are reports that he didn't go quickly. Apparently reports of his escape were sparked as rescuers heard his voice early on. Also, he had a flight booked to leave Turkey that night at 11 pm but cancelled it to hang out with his team mates then, 5 hours later, the earthquake hit.

Absolute tragedy for his wife and young kids too. Then as Brent points out just think of all the others of equally tragic losses involving thousands we never knew of. God bless all affected.

Paul Birmingham
16 Posted 19/02/2023 at 02:28:55
It puts life, and the game, in perspective.

RIP, Christian Atsu, words can't describe, what hell your family's going through, along with the rest of Turkey and the World.

Si Cooper
17 Posted 19/02/2023 at 15:57:17
Terribly sad news. Have to hope the false reports of him being rescued made no difference to the outcome.
Another catastrophe to remind us how precious life is.
Jerome Shields
18 Posted 19/02/2023 at 19:16:45
RIP Christian Atsu.Very sad for his family.

19 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:57:53

20 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:57:53
JYupWMLW

21 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:57:53
JYupWMLW

22 Posted 28/04/2023 at 12:57:53
JYupWMLW

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