Former Newcastle winger Christian Atsu has been found alive after he was pulled out alive from the rubble in Turkey. The 31-year-old Ghanaian international, who is currently representing Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig, was reported missing after colleagues and staff members of the club were allegedly rescued from the wreckage. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake, followed by a 7.5-magnitude one, struck southern Turkey and northern Syria early on Monday morning, killing more than 5,000 people. Atsu received good news from Hatayspor vice president Mustafa Ozat, but Taner Savut, the club’s sporting director, is still inside the damaged structure.
“Christian Atsu was extracted from the debris with wounds,” Mustafa Ozat said after the former Newcastle winger was pulled from the rubble. “Taner Savut, our director of sport, is regrettably still buried in the debris.”
After joining Newcastle on loan from Chelsea for the 2017 season and eventually making a permanent transfer, Atsu was a part of the club that earned promotion back to the Premier League. He also briefly served on a short basis at Everton and Bournemouth. Atsu left St James’ Park in the summer of 2021 after making 121 appearances for the club. On Sunday, he scored in the final seconds to secure a 1-0 victory over Kasimpasa. Following the earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday, goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan passed away. The second division team of the 28-year-old, Yeni Malatyaspor, tweeted a confirmation of the information.
“Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, our goalie, perished as a result of being caught in the earthquake’s collapse. Peace be with you. We won’t forget you, lovely individual,” they added.
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