Football star is found dead in quake
FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER KILLED IN TURKEY Ex-teammates pay tribute to Ghana international Atsu
Former Chelsea captain John Terry last night led tributes to his ex-teammate Christian Atsu after the footballer was found dead under rubble in Turkey.
The 31-year-old Ghana international had been mi s sing since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the early hours of February 6.
There were reports that Atsu, who played for Turkish top- f light club Hatayspor, had been rescued but his agent Nana Sechere announced that his body had been found under rubble at his apartment in Antakya.
He had been due to leave Turkey just hours before the earthquake after getting permission to look for a new club in France.
But he chose to stay after scoring a stoppage-time winner in Hatayspor’s Super Lig match against Kasimpasa on the day of the earthquake.
Sechere said on Twitter: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well-wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning.”
Atsu played for Porto before moving
to Chelsea in 2013. He was transferred to Newcastle United in 2016 after loan spells at Vitesse Arnhem in The Netherlands, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle.
Former Chelsea captain Terry said on Twitter, “RIP my friend” and included a broken heart emoji. Cesc Fabregas and Michy Batshuayi were among other ex-teammates to pay tributes.
Newcastle United said: “A talented player and a special person, he will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.”
There was a minute’s silence in Atsu’s memory at Newcastle’s St James’ Park yesterday ahead of their Premier League match against Liverpool.
Atsu, whose elder brother and twin sister were there when his body was recovered, is survived by his wife Marie- Claire and their three kids.
The death tol l following the earthquake and aftershocks in southern Turkey and northern Syria passed 45,000 yesterday.
About 332,000 homes in Turkey have been f lattened and many people are still missing.
There were bit t er - sweet celebrations after a Syrian couple and their 12-year-old son were found alive after being buried for 296 hours under their home in Antakya.
However, the boy later died of dehydration. His older sister and a twin were also killed.