Ghana’s ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, has refuted resurging claims that former Black Stars player, Christian Atsu, has not been found and rescued after an earthquake in Turkey.
On Monday, there were reports that the former Chelsea and Newcastle winger and sporting director for Hatayspor, Taner Savut, had been trapped in a rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
Later that evening, international tabloids reported that Christian Atsu has been found and rescued, however, Taner Savut remained missing. It was said that Christian Atsu had been sent to a hospital for treatment but the said health facility was not identified.
However, on Wednesday, football agent, Murat Uzunmehmet noted that reports that Christian Atsu had been rescued can not be confirmed. According to him, the embassy said there are not able to track the said hospital the 31-year-old was sent to.
This recent revelation has caused panic on social media with many doubting information put out.
But engaging GTV, H.E. Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, noted that “yesterday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here assured me that he has been found & rescued & has been sent to a medical center because he was found with injuries.”
She however, noted that the challenge has been “trying to locate which hospital or health center he has been sent for treatment.”
“This is understandable because of the situation when you are rescued, you are put in an ambulance sent to an available facility. This morning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here has assured me that they are trying to locate the facility he was sent to,” she added.
On Christian Atsu, yesterday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here assured me that he has been found & rescued & has been sent to a medical center because he was found with injuries – H.E. Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, Ghana’s Amb. to Turkey#GTVBreakfast pic.twitter.com/eJh1RLrVNd
— GTV Ghana (@GTV_Ghana) February 8, 2023
Her statement goes to confirm that the player has been indeed rescued.
Meanwhile, over 9,000 lives have been lost in Turkey and Syria due to the natural disaster.