Christian Atsu plays for Super Lig club Hatayspor
(Picture: REUTERS)Former Newcastle and Chelsea footballer Christian Atsu has been rescued from rubble following the earthquake in Turkey that has killed at least 5,000.
The ex-Premier League player, 31, had been based in the Kahramanaras region – one of the worst areas affected - as he represented Super Lig club Hatayspor.
Atsu was reported missing following the 7.8 magnitude quake that brought down around 6,000 buildings in several Turkish and Syrian cities on Monday.
But sources confirmed on Tuesday that he is injured but alive.
“Christian Atsu was pulled out injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble,” club vice president Mustafa Ozat told Radyo Gol.
Ghana Football Association also confirmed that Atsu had been successfully rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building and is receiving treatment.
Atsu played in the Premier League for Newcastle United and Everton, on loan from Chelsea, and joined Hatayspor in September.
He was last selected to play for Ghana in 2019, but has not officially retired from international football.
Ozat told BeIN Sports on Monday several players and officials had been rescued from the rubble.
Two players and members of the technical staff were “pulled out of the rubble” during dramatic rescue operations.
Update: We've received some positive news that Christian Atsu has been successfully rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and is receiving treatment.
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) February 7, 2023
Let’s continue to pray for Christian🙏🏽
Rescuers raced to find survivors on Tuesday morning, with the discovery of more bodies raising the death toll to more than 5,000.
Countries around the world have dispatched teams to assist in the rescue efforts, and Turkey’s disaster management agency said more than 24,400 emergency personnel were now on the ground.
Attempts to reach survivors were also hindered by below-freezing temperatures and close to 200 aftershocks.
