According to Mail Online, Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, who was among the victims reportedly trapped under rubble after a massive earthquake struck Turkey in the early hours of Monday, has been found alive.
More than 3000 people have been killed and thousands more have been injured as a result of the devastating earthquake that struck the two countries overnight, flattening neighborhoods while families were sleeping.
A search and rescue operation was launched for the former Chelsea and Newcastle player, which was widely reported to be successful.
A Bola, a Portuguese news outlet, was the first to report Atsu’s discovery, adding that he was taken to a hospital after suffering injuries to his right foot and breathing difficulties.
After the earthquake, several members of his new team had to be rescued, and Atsu is now reported to be among those still missing as a search and rescue operation begins.
Taner Savut, the club’s sporting director, is also imprisoned as efforts to free them continue.
Atsu joined Chelsea as a youngster from Porto in 2013 before being loaned out several times. He spent time at Everton and Bournemouth before joining Newcastle United on a permanent basis in 2017. He had never played in the Premier League for Chelsea.
He left the Magpies in 2021 after playing over 100 games to join Saudi side Al-Raed, but he left the Middle East for Turkey in the summer. He scored his first goal for the club just hours before the earthquake hit.