Christian Atsu's partner asks for more help to find footballer after Turkey earthquake disaster
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Published 11/02/2023 at 10:05 GMT
Former Newcastle footballer Christian Atsu now plays for Hatayspor in Hatay, Turkey, one of the regions hit hardest by last week's earthquake which caused a humanitarian disaster. His partner has called for more help from the British government and others after conflicting reports about a potential rescue that has yet to be confirmed by his agent.
Christian Atsu
Image credit: Getty Images
Christian Atsu’s partner is calling for more equipment to be sent to the collapsed building where the Hatayspor forward was living, with his whereabouts currently unknown.
Hatayspor was one of the regions struck by the two devastating earthquakes in Turkey and neighbouring Syria on Monday, which has claimed the lives of over 21,000 people.
There have been conflicting reports about the status of Atsu, who has also played for Newcastle and Chelsea.
"I still pray, and believe that he is alive,” Claire Rupio told the BBC.
After earlier suggestions that Atsu had been rescued were not confirmed, Rupio - who lives in Newcastle - said that the confusion was “confusing” and “quite shocking”, adding that their children were still unsure of their father’s fate.
She continued: “I appeal for the Hatayspor club, the Turkish authorities, and the British government, to send out the equipment to get people out of the rubble - especially my partner and father of my children.
“They need the equipment to get them out - they can’t get that deep without the equipment. And time is running out.”
Hatayspor’s sporting director Tanur Savut is also missing. There continue to be survivors rescued from collapsed buildings, but the passing of time makes success less likely for those still trapped.
On Tuesday, the club’s vice president said that Atsu had been rescued, but the player’s agent, Nana Sechere, could not confirm this and is now in Turkey.
On Thursday, Sechere tweeted: "The situation remains the same, Christian Atsu is yet to be found. Unless I see Christian, or speak with him, I have no further updates."
“They know where the building is, and they’re trying their best to rescue everybody,” Rupio continued.
“They know there are people still trapped under the rubble, but the problem is that they don’t have the equipment necessary to get them out.
“So he’s still missing, and we don’t know where he is.
“The club were confirming that he was found and was alive and taken to hospital, and 11 hours later my children had to hear from the radio that they still did not know where he is.
“I know that his agent is there, and trying their best to find him. He will obviously bring me the news that I can trust, if he sees him or speaks to him. Everything is quite confusing.”
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