Former Newcastle United midfielder Christian Atsu has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey and transferred to hospital following an earthquake that devastated the country and parts of Syria over the weekend. PA
Former Newcastle United midfielder Christian Atsu has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey and transferred to hospital following an earthquake that devastated the country and parts of Syria over the weekend. PA
Former Newcastle United midfielder Christian Atsu has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey and transferred to hospital following an earthquake that devastated the country and parts of Syria over the weekend. PA
Former Newcastle United midfielder Christian Atsu has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey and transferred to hospital following an earthquake that devastated the countr

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Football

Christian Atsu pulled from rubble alive after earthquake in Turkey, official says

Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble: club official

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

February 07, 2023

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Follow the latest on the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Former Chelsea and Newcastle United star Christian Atsu has been found alive and transferred to hospital after being pulled from the rubble of a building that collapsed following this weekend's earthquake that has devastated parts of Turkey and Syria.

"Christian Atsu was removed from the wreckage with injuries. Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble," Hatayspor vice-president Mustafa Ozat told Radyo Gol.

Ghana's ambassador to Turkey has also confirmed Atsu's rescue.

READ MORE

Turkish goalkeeper Ahmet Turkaslan missing after earthquake

Atsu, a 31-year-old former Ghana international, was caught up in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which occurred on Monday killing thousands.

Hatayspor, Atsu's current club, is located in the Turkish city of the Hatay, which is believed to be one of the areas worst affected by the earthquake.

Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed, with many people feared trapped under the rubble.

The quake and scores of aftershocks, one of which was almost as big as the original earthquake, was felt across the region in Lebanon, Cyprus and Iraq, and as far away as Greenland.

The initial quake had a 7.8 magnitude. The death toll is expected to rise sharply.

Atsu was part of the Newcastle team which won promotion back to the Premier League in 2017 after joining on loan for the season from Chelsea, and later completed a permanent move.

"Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20," read a post on the official Newcastle United Twitter account.

Atsu was in action on Sunday for Hatayspor, scoring a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time in a 1-0 victory over Kasimpasa, moving them up to 14th place in the 19-team Turkish Super Lig and two points above the relegation zone.

Atsu represented Ghana between 2012 to 2019, winning 65 caps and scoring nine goals. He represented the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He began his career at Portuguese club Porto in 2011 before transferring to Chelsea in 2013. Following a succession of loan moves, he moved to Newcastle permanently in 2017 and remained at St James' Park for four years, playing 75 Premier League matches and scoring three goals.

Atsu transferred to Saudi Arabia's Al Raed in 2021 before moving to Hatayspor last August.

Meanwhile, Turkish second division side Yeni Matalyaspor have confirmed that their 28-year-old goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan is also missing.

The second-tier outfit released a statement on Instagram, in which they said: “Our goalkeeper, Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, is in the building that was damaged and destroyed in the earthquake.

“Search and rescue efforts continue. As of now, there has been no news from him yet.”

Earthquake strikes Turkey and Syria

A child being rescued from the rubble in this screengrab obtained from social media, in Bisnia in Syria. Reuters
A child being rescued from the rubble in this screengrab obtained from social media, in Bisnia in Syria. Reuters
A rescued boy is given water in a bottle cap in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
A rescued boy is given water in a bottle cap in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
A woman carries a box of food in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
A woman carries a box of food in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
'We were screaming for help until people came to help us and they took us to the hospital', said Hamid from Homs who was injured in a building collapse. Matt Kynaston / The National
'We were screaming for help until people came to help us and they took us to the hospital', said Hamid from Homs who was injured in a building collapse. Matt Kynaston / The National
Palestinians attend a vigil to exress solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria in Khan Yunius in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
Palestinians attend a vigil to exress solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria in Khan Yunius in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
A collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey after a major earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. EPA
A collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey after a major earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. EPA
A Syrian man cries as he sits on the rubble of a collapsed building in the rebel-held town of Jindayris. AFP
A Syrian man cries as he sits on the rubble of a collapsed building in the rebel-held town of Jindayris. AFP
A man carries a girl who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay. EPA
A man carries a girl who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay. EPA
Members of the Turkish community in Berlin gather humanitarian aid. EPA
Members of the Turkish community in Berlin gather humanitarian aid. EPA
A Turkish soldier in front of a collapsed building in Hatay. EPA
A Turkish soldier in front of a collapsed building in Hatay. EPA
The rubble of buildings in the village of Besnaya in Syria's Idlib province. AFP
The rubble of buildings in the village of Besnaya in Syria's Idlib province. AFP
Russian rescuers search for survivors in the town of Jableh in Syria's Latakia province. AFP
Russian rescuers search for survivors in the town of Jableh in Syria's Latakia province. AFP
A photo taken with a drone shows an aerial view over collapsed buildings after an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey. EPA
A photo taken with a drone shows an aerial view over collapsed buildings after an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey. EPA
Destruction in Hatay city centre. AP
Destruction in Hatay city centre. AP
Members of the Turkish community in Berlin collect aid to support victims. Reuters
Members of the Turkish community in Berlin collect aid to support victims. Reuters
An injured man is carried to an ambulance after being rescued from the rubble in Hatay. Reuters
An injured man is carried to an ambulance after being rescued from the rubble in Hatay. Reuters
A man carries an aid box in Hatay. Getty
A man carries an aid box in Hatay. Getty
Bags of wood for fires are distributed in Hatay Turkey. Getty
Bags of wood for fires are distributed in Hatay Turkey. Getty
A man trapped in rubble waits while debris is removed in Hatay. AFP
A man trapped in rubble waits while debris is removed in Hatay. AFP
Residents look for their relatives in Hatay. AFP
Residents look for their relatives in Hatay. AFP
Rescuers look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, close to the quake's epicentre. AFP
Rescuers look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, close to the quake's epicentre. AFP
Emergency personnel search for victims at the site of a collapsed building in the city of Iskenderun. EPA
Emergency personnel search for victims at the site of a collapsed building in the city of Iskenderun. EPA
Muhammet Ruzgar, five, is carried by rescuers from the site of a damaged building in Hatay. Reuters
Muhammet Ruzgar, five, is carried by rescuers from the site of a damaged building in Hatay. Reuters
A newborn found attached by her umbilical cord to her mother and pulled alive from the rubble of a home in northern Syria receives care at a clinic in Afrin. AFP
A newborn found attached by her umbilical cord to her mother and pulled alive from the rubble of a home in northern Syria receives care at a clinic in Afrin. AFP
Women grieve in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
Women grieve in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
Smoke billows at the site of a collapsed building in Iskenderun, Turkey. Getty
Smoke billows at the site of a collapsed building in Iskenderun, Turkey. Getty
An Iraqi plane offloads aid at Damascus airport in Syria. Reuters
An Iraqi plane offloads aid at Damascus airport in Syria. Reuters
Two people cry near rubble in Turkey's Hatay province. Reuters
Two people cry near rubble in Turkey's Hatay province. Reuters
A damaged building in Iskenderun. EPA
A damaged building in Iskenderun. EPA
Rescuers search for survivors at the site of a collapsed building in Iskenderun. EPA
Rescuers search for survivors at the site of a collapsed building in Iskenderun. EPA
Cennet Sucu is rescued from beneath the rubble of collapsed hospital in Iskenderun. Reuters
Cennet Sucu is rescued from beneath the rubble of collapsed hospital in Iskenderun. Reuters
Security forces load Red Crescent aid on to a plane destined for Syria at a military base in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
Security forces load Red Crescent aid on to a plane destined for Syria at a military base in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters
People rest next to fire amid the rubble in Hatay, after a 7. 8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey's south-east. AFP
People rest next to fire amid the rubble in Hatay, after a 7. 8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey's south-east. AFP
Rescuers board a charter plane in Cologne, Germany, as they head to Turkey to assist in the search for find survivors of the quake. Reuters
Rescuers board a charter plane in Cologne, Germany, as they head to Turkey to assist in the search for find survivors of the quake. Reuters
Injured survivors wait to be treated at a field hospital in Iskenderun,Turkey. Getty
Injured survivors wait to be treated at a field hospital in Iskenderun,Turkey. Getty
Residents of Turkish city Adana gather at the scene of a collapsed building. The death toll in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 2,000 after the region's strongest quake in nearly a century. AFP
Residents of Turkish city Adana gather at the scene of a collapsed building. The death toll in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 2,000 after the region's strongest quake in nearly a century. AFP
Residents search for survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings in the village of Besnia, in Syria's north-western Idlib province. AFP
Residents search for survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings in the village of Besnia, in Syria's north-western Idlib province. AFP
A rescuer carries a Syrian toddler, Raghad Ismail, away from the rubble of a building. Reuters
A rescuer carries a Syrian toddler, Raghad Ismail, away from the rubble of a building. Reuters
Residents wait anxiously as rescue operations take place in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
Residents wait anxiously as rescue operations take place in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
Rescue workers search for survivors under the rubble in Diyarbakir. Reuters
Rescue workers search for survivors under the rubble in Diyarbakir. Reuters
Residents search for survivors in Besnia, Syria. AFP
Residents search for survivors in Besnia, Syria. AFP
A Syrian man weeps as he carries the body of his son who was killed in an earthquake in the town of Jandaris. AFP
A Syrian man weeps as he carries the body of his son who was killed in an earthquake in the town of Jandaris. AFP
A wounded man in Jandaris. AFP
A wounded man in Jandaris. AFP
Rescue workers search for survivors in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
Rescue workers search for survivors in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
A man carries a girl to safety following the earthquake, in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
A man carries a girl to safety following the earthquake, in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
People receive treatment at Al Rahma hospital in the Syrian town of Darkush. AFP
People receive treatment at Al Rahma hospital in the Syrian town of Darkush. AFP
Rescuers carry a girl from a collapsed building, in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
Rescuers carry a girl from a collapsed building, in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
A survivor is extracted from the rubble in Diyarbakir. AFP
A survivor is extracted from the rubble in Diyarbakir. AFP
The aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 in Adana, Turkey. Reuters
The aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 in Adana, Turkey. Reuters
Rescuers work near the site of a collapsed building in Hama, Syria. Reuters
Rescuers work near the site of a collapsed building in Hama, Syria. Reuters
Turkish sweet vendors at Dubai Waterfront Market watch earthquake updates on a phone. Victor Besa / The National
Turkish sweet vendors at Dubai Waterfront Market watch earthquake updates on a phone. Victor Besa / The National
Hayri Aggül and Ismet Guven watch the latest news on the disaster. Victor Besa / The National
Hayri Aggül and Ismet Guven watch the latest news on the disaster. Victor Besa / The National
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad (C) leads an emergency cabinet meeting in the capital, Damascus. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad (C) leads an emergency cabinet meeting in the capital, Damascus. EPA
Hundreds of people were killed as they slept. Abd Almajed Alkarh for The National
Hundreds of people were killed as they slept. Abd Almajed Alkarh for The National
Rescue teams search for survivors in Idlib, Syria. Abd Almajed Alkarh for The National
Rescue teams search for survivors in Idlib, Syria. Abd Almajed Alkarh for The National
Rescue teams look for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. AFP
Rescue teams look for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. AFP
A desperate search for survivors in Aleppo. AFP
A desperate search for survivors in Aleppo. AFP
Despair in Diyarbakir, south-eastern Turkey. AFP
Despair in Diyarbakir, south-eastern Turkey. AFP
An injured survivor is pulled from the rubble in Diyarbakir. AFP
An injured survivor is pulled from the rubble in Diyarbakir. AFP
Relatives face an anxious wait as emergency teams search for survivors in Diyarbakir. EPA
Relatives face an anxious wait as emergency teams search for survivors in Diyarbakir. EPA
Damage caused by the earthquake in Idlib, north-western Syria. Moawia Atrash for The National
Damage caused by the earthquake in Idlib, north-western Syria. Moawia Atrash for The National
An injured child is plucked from the rubble of a building following the earthquake in rebel-held Azaz, Syria. Reuters
An injured child is plucked from the rubble of a building following the earthquake in rebel-held Azaz, Syria. Reuters
A Syrian Civil Defence team recovering victims of the earthquake in Idlib. Moawia Atrash for The National
A Syrian Civil Defence team recovering victims of the earthquake in Idlib. Moawia Atrash for The National
Tremors were felt as far away as Cyprus, Egypt and Iraq. Moawia Atrash for The National
Tremors were felt as far away as Cyprus, Egypt and Iraq. Moawia Atrash for The National
Destruction in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Destruction in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
People search through rubble in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
People search through rubble in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Reuters
A car is smashed up by fallen debris in Azaz. Reuters
A car is smashed up by fallen debris in Azaz. Reuters
Damaged vehicles after the powerful earthquake in Diyarbakir. EPA
Damaged vehicles after the powerful earthquake in Diyarbakir. EPA
Severe damage to a mosque in Malatya, Turkey. AP
Severe damage to a mosque in Malatya, Turkey. AP
Several buildings collapsed, trapping many people underneath the rubble. AP
Several buildings collapsed, trapping many people underneath the rubble. AP
Hospitals in north-eastern Syria were full of injured people. AFP
Hospitals in north-eastern Syria were full of injured people. AFP
An injured man waits for treatment at Bab Al Hawa hospital in Syria's Idlib province. AFP
An injured man waits for treatment at Bab Al Hawa hospital in Syria's Idlib province. AFP
A car is buried underneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Azmarin, a town in Syria's Idlib province. AP
A car is buried underneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Azmarin, a town in Syria's Idlib province. AP
Rescuers search for victims as an ambulance waits. AFP
Rescuers search for victims as an ambulance waits. AFP
An injured child awaits treatment at Bab Al Hawa hospital. AFP
An injured child awaits treatment at Bab Al Hawa hospital. AFP
Rescuers search through the rubble for survivors. EPA
Rescuers search through the rubble for survivors. EPA
The US Geological Survey said the quake began at 4.17am local time. EPA
The US Geological Survey said the quake began at 4.17am local time. EPA
People at the site of a collapsed building. EPA
People at the site of a collapsed building. EPA
The earthquake in Turkey caused widespread destruction. AP
The earthquake in Turkey caused widespread destruction. AP
People gather around a collapsed building in Pazarcik, in Turkey's Kahramanmaras province. AP
People gather around a collapsed building in Pazarcik, in Turkey's Kahramanmaras province. AP
At least 130 buildings collapsed in the Turkish city of Malatya. Reuters
At least 130 buildings collapsed in the Turkish city of Malatya. Reuters
Rescuers search for victims in Diyarbakir. AFP
Rescuers search for victims in Diyarbakir. AFP
Rescuers carry a victim at the site of a collapsed building in Hama, Syria. AFP
Rescuers carry a victim at the site of a collapsed building in Hama, Syria. AFP
Rescuers search for survivors in Hama. AFP
Rescuers search for survivors in Hama. AFP
Rescuers carry a victim pulled out from under the rubble of an eight-storey building. AFP
Rescuers carry a victim pulled out from under the rubble of an eight-storey building. AFP
Damaged buildings in Hama. The aftershocks of the quake were felt in Syria and other neighbouring countries. Reuters
Damaged buildings in Hama. The aftershocks of the quake were felt in Syria and other neighbouring countries. Reuters
A Syrian Civil Defence representative said the situation in the city was catastrophic. Reuters
A Syrian Civil Defence representative said the situation in the city was catastrophic. Reuters
The death toll is expected to rise in Turkey and Syria. Reuters
The death toll is expected to rise in Turkey and Syria. Reuters
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His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard

Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece

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Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great

Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos

 

 

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