Hatayspor club official Faith llek has broken silence on the death of Christian Atsu, MySportDab reports.
Christian Atsu was confirmed dead a week after a disastrous earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and some parts of Syria.
Some Turkish players, including Marasspor players, were confirmed buried by the earthquake.
Some victims were rescued alive. Others were confirmed dead. Casualty figures were increasing as search and rescue operations gathered momentum.
Christian Atsu was unfortunately among some of the victims confirmed missing after the earthquake.
The former Chelsea and Premier League star was reportedly buried in the rubble, including some of his teammates and staff.
However, after search and rescue operations, three of his teammates were reportedly found alive, including a staff, but Christian Atsu was still confirmed missing.
Reports later emerged he has been found and hospitalized, but the report was later debunked by his agent.
We had reported earlier that Christian Atsu was finally found dead in the rubble a week after the earthquake.
Now, reports linked to Hatayspor club official have confirmed Christian Atsu would have possibly averted his death.
The former Ghana international had reportedly planned to visit his family and had booked a flight from Turkey which was to take off by 11pm after the game against Kasimpasa in the Turkish Super Lig.
After he scored a 98th-minute winner for Hatayspor against Kasimpasa, he reportedly canceled the flight and choose to stay back in Turkey and celebrate the win with his teammates.
The earthquake struck by 4am on Saturday 6 after he canceled his flight scheduled to take off on Friday at 11 pm immediately after the Kasimpasa game.
The information of Christian Atsu’s canceled flight, made available to The Mirror, was revealed by Hatayspor administrative manager Faith llek.
Speaking with Turkish outlet Radyospor Faith llek said;
“He didn’t play against Gaziantep FK, but scored a last-minute goal in the Kasımpasa match
“Actually, he was going abroad to visit his family. But when he played well and scored, he canceled his ticket. The earthquake happened on his happiest day. He had a flight at 11pm. Cancelled the ticket. There was an earthquake at 4am. Absolutely a tragedy.”
Christian Atsu’s former clubs, Chelsea, Porto, Newcastle, Bournemouth, and others have sent in condolences after news of his death emerged.
