Ghanaian soccer star Christian Atsu found alive in rubble after powerful earthquake leaves thousands dead
Christian Atsu, a Ghanaian soccer star who played in the English Premier League for Everton and Newcastle United, has been found alive following an earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
The Football Association of Ghana tweeted on Tuesday that they had received reports that Atsu was alive. He was pulled from a collapsed building in Turkey. Atsu currently plays for Turkish club Hatayspor.
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Chelsea’s Pedro, left, and Newcastle United’s Christian Atsu battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge stadium in London on January 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
“We have received positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment,” the Ghana Football Association wrote in a tweet. “Let’s keep praying for Christian.”
A spokesperson for Hatayspor told Turkish media on Monday that Atsu would be in a building that was destroyed after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and Syria. The death toll from the powerful quakes has risen to more than 5,000.
A file photo dated September 7, 2022 shows Christian Atsu of Atakas Hatayspor posing for a photo during a training session in Hatay, Turkey. (Atakas Hatayspor/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Atsu made his Portugal debut and helped Porto win the Primeira Liga in the 2012-13 season. He had signed with Chelsea on a five-year contract but had been loaned to several other clubs and had never made an appearance for the Blues.
He has 65 national team appearances and nine goals.
People and rescue teams try to reach residents trapped inside collapsed buildings in Adana, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A powerful earthquake toppled several buildings in southeastern Turkey and Turkey. Syria and many victims are to be feared. (IHA Agency via AP)
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The earthquake hit the region early on Monday and was centered in the southern Turkish province of Kahramanmaras. The rumble was felt as far away as Cairo in Egypt. Subsequent tremors caused more destruction.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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