Body of Ghana soccer star found under rubble after Turkey quake

HATAY, Turkey — The body of former Ghana soccer international Christian Atsu has been found after a huge earthquake in Turkey, local media reported Saturday, quoting his manager.

Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.

There were initial reports he had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false.

His manager in Turkey, Murat Uzunmehmet, told DHA news agency on Saturday that his body had been found under the rubble in the Turkish southern province of Hatay.

“We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found,” Uzunmehmet told DHA.

Midfielder Atsu spent four seasons at Chelsea before a permanent transfer to Newcastle in 2017. He signed in September for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor.

Search and rescue workers found Atsu’s body where he was staying at Ronesans Residence, a block of high-rise luxury flats that toppled over in Antakya city in Hatay.

A message written on a car covered by dust from collapsed buildings reads ‘God it’s enough. Hatay. Antakya. 6 of February 2023. In the name of God the merciful, the compassionate’ in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, Wednesday, February 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Turkish police arrested the building’s contractor at Istanbul airport last week as he appeared to be heading to Montenegro, according to state news agency Anadolu.