ANKARA, Feb 18 (Reuters) – Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu was found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey after last week’s massive earthquake, his Turkish agent said on Saturday.
Atsu had been missing since the Feb. 6 earthquake after an apartment building collapsed in Hatay. He was 31.
“Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay. “For now, more items are still coming out. His phone was also found.”
Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours before the earthquake, but Hatayspor’s manager said on Friday that the Ghanaian had opted to stay at the club after scoring the winning goal in a Super Lig match on February 5.
Ghana’s foreign ministry said Atsu’s older brother and twin sister were at the scene when his body was recovered. The embassy is arranging for the body to be transported to Ghana for burial.
“The government extends our deepest condolences to the widow and family of Christian Atsu,” the ministry said in a statement.
Atsu joined Hatayspor in September last year after spells with English Premier League clubs Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
“We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person. There are no words to describe our sadness,” Hatayspor wrote on Twitter.
Newcastle also paid tribute, saying: “A talented player and special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.”
Former Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez described Atsu as a “special person”.
“He was a nice lad and always had a smile, I’m really sad for him and everyone who knew him,” he told Sky Sports.
Atsu won 65 caps for Ghana and helped them reach the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost to Ivory Coast on penalties. He was last selected to play for Ghana in 2019.
He joined Chelsea from Porto in 2013 and had several loan spells at clubs such as Vitesse and Bournemouth.
“Chelsea sends our deepest condolences to Christian’s family and friends and to all those affected by the earthquake tragedy,” the London club said.
More than 45,000 people have died in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, and the toll is expected to rise further, as some 264,000 apartments in Turkey have been destroyed and many more are missing in the country’s worst modern disaster.
Reporting by Ece Toksabay and Manasi Pathak Additional reporting by Christian Akorlie in Accra. Edited by William Mallard/Alex Richardson/Ken Ferris/Clare Fallon
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