Former Chelsea and Newcastle player Christian Atsu is RESCUED after his voice was heard under rubble of a collapsed building - but his club say he is injured
- last year
Former Newcastle and Chelsea star Christian Atsu has finally been rescued from a destroyed building following an earthquake in Turkey.
Atsu, who was reported missing alongside Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut, is injured but is now out of the building, the club's vice president Mustafa Özat has confirmed.
Speaking to Radyo Gol, Ozat said: 'Christian Atsu was taken out with injuries. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble.'
Up to 20,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured after the catastrophic earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria overnight on Monday, flattening neighborhoods while families were asleep.
Footage shared on social media by Ajansspor showed a rescue team in the village of Ekinci in the Adıyaman District.
It is claimed in the video that the voices of Atsu and sporting director Savut can be heard.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has detailed that there is an anxious wait to rescue Savut, the sporting director, with rescue teams navigating the rubble.
Hatayspor players Burak Öksüz, Kerem Alici, and Onur Ergün, as well as team officials Ekrem Ekşioğlu and Osman Ateş, were rescued from the rubble on the first day, it was reported.
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 completing a permanent move. He has also won 65 caps for Ghana.
The Ghana Football Association said on Tuesday: '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.'
In response to the Tweet from the GFA, Newcastle said: 'Welcome news. Our thoughts remain with Christian, his loved ones, and all those affected by Monday's devastating earthquakes.'
In a message after the game, he wrote: 'Important win for the team. Happy to be on the scoresheet.'
The earthquake hit hard in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor is based.
Hatayspor player Onur Ergun posted an Instagram story in response to earlier reports that he is missing to say they were incorrect.
'Thank you very much to everyone who called and asked,' the midfielder said. 'The news is not true. I'm fine.
'I can't answer the phone because there is a network problem. Get well soon to all of us.'
Former Turkey international and Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel broke down in tears on social media as he implored the world to help his homeland after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Sunday.
Demirel, who made 63 senior caps for Turkey during his international career, took to Instagram in a live video on Monday morning to beg for support.
'Help! I want you to send all the resources you have to the environmentalist. It is not just Hatay and Antakya,' Demirel pleaded.
'Please, I'm asking you. Please, please, for the love of God, people are dying here. For the love of God...'
Despite starting the video off in
Atsu, who was reported missing alongside Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut, is injured but is now out of the building, the club's vice president Mustafa Özat has confirmed.
Speaking to Radyo Gol, Ozat said: 'Christian Atsu was taken out with injuries. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble.'
Up to 20,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured after the catastrophic earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria overnight on Monday, flattening neighborhoods while families were asleep.
Footage shared on social media by Ajansspor showed a rescue team in the village of Ekinci in the Adıyaman District.
It is claimed in the video that the voices of Atsu and sporting director Savut can be heard.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has detailed that there is an anxious wait to rescue Savut, the sporting director, with rescue teams navigating the rubble.
Hatayspor players Burak Öksüz, Kerem Alici, and Onur Ergün, as well as team officials Ekrem Ekşioğlu and Osman Ateş, were rescued from the rubble on the first day, it was reported.
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 completing a permanent move. He has also won 65 caps for Ghana.
The Ghana Football Association said on Tuesday: '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.'
In response to the Tweet from the GFA, Newcastle said: 'Welcome news. Our thoughts remain with Christian, his loved ones, and all those affected by Monday's devastating earthquakes.'
In a message after the game, he wrote: 'Important win for the team. Happy to be on the scoresheet.'
The earthquake hit hard in Kahramanmaras, where Hatayspor is based.
Hatayspor player Onur Ergun posted an Instagram story in response to earlier reports that he is missing to say they were incorrect.
'Thank you very much to everyone who called and asked,' the midfielder said. 'The news is not true. I'm fine.
'I can't answer the phone because there is a network problem. Get well soon to all of us.'
Former Turkey international and Hatayspor manager Volkan Demirel broke down in tears on social media as he implored the world to help his homeland after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Sunday.
Demirel, who made 63 senior caps for Turkey during his international career, took to Instagram in a live video on Monday morning to beg for support.
'Help! I want you to send all the resources you have to the environmentalist. It is not just Hatay and Antakya,' Demirel pleaded.
'Please, I'm asking you. Please, please, for the love of God, people are dying here. For the love of God...'
Despite starting the video off in