Soccer star Christian Atsu, pulled from earthquake rubble
Ghanaian professional footballer export, Christian Atsu, has been pulled from the rubble of a building after the earthquakes in Turkey that have killed at least 4,800 people.
His club’s vice-president Mustafa Özat told Turkish radio that Atsu who plays for Hatayspor came out “with injuries.”
The 31 year old Christian Atsu, ex-Ghana forward, signed for Hatayspor in September 2022 after playing some 107 games for Newcastle and having spells with Chelsea, Everton and Bournemouth.
Atsu, who won 65 times for Ghana, joined Hatayspor in September 2022 after a season with Saudi Arabian team Al-Raed. He scored the winning goal in the 90th minute of Hatayspor’s Super Lig match against Kasimpasa on Sunday.
The Ghanaian Football Association tweeted: “We’ve received some positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment. Let’s continue to pray for Christian.”
Hatayspor’s sporting director Taner Savut is still in the collapsed building.
Hatay was one of the areas closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, and has suffered extensive damage.
“Christian Atsu was removed from the wreckage with injuries,” Özat told Radyo Gol, adding: “Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble. Hatay was deeply affected. We are coming towards the end of the most dangerous hours.”
The Oracle Today reports that anxiety heaped on Christian Atsu on Monday when it was hinted that he was among those buried in the heaps of collapsed building rubbles in northern Turkey where he plays professional football.
International rescue team have flown from all over the world to assist Turkey and Syria cope with massive emergency situations emerging from the chain of earthquakes and tremors that rocked the region early Monday.
