The partner of footballer Christian Atsu, who has been missing since the Monday earthquake in Turkey, has requested that equipment be sent to the collapsed building where he was living. According to reports, Atsu, who plays for Turkish club Hatayspor, was rescued “injured” from a building. His agent later confirmed his whereabouts are unknown a day later. “I still pray and believe that he is alive,” Claire Rupio, who lives in Newcastle, UK said. Rupio claims that conflicting reports about his whereabouts have been “confusing” and “quite shocking,” revealing that their children heard on the radio that he is still missing.
“I appeal for the Hatayspor club, the Turkish authorities, and the British government, to send out the equipment to get people out of the rubble – especially my partner and father of my children.
“They need the equipment to get them out – they can’t get that deep without the equipment. And the clock is ticking.”
Since the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, more than 21,000 people have died in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
Taner Savut, the sporting director of Atsu’s club Hatayspor, and Atsu have not been seen since the quake on Monday.
On Tuesday, Hatayspor’s vice president told Turkish media that Atsu had been found alive, but on Wednesday, other club officials and Atsu’s agent Nana Sechere said they couldn’t confirm this.
Rupio stated that the agent is now in Turkey, attempting to gain access to the building in Hatay where Astu is located.
On Thursday, Sechere tweeted: “Christian Atsu has yet to be found, so the situation remains unchanged. I have no further updates unless I see Christian or speak with him.”
“They know where the building is, and they’re doing everything they can to save everyone,” Rupio added.
“They know there are people still trapped under the rubble, but the problem is that they don’t have the equipment necessary to get them out.
“He’s still missing, and we have no idea where he is.”
‘Atsu reports have been confusing and shocking’
Rupio last communicated with Atsu on Saturday morning. She described the club’s inaccurate news about Atsu’s rescue as “quite shocking.”
“The club was confirming that he had been found, was alive, and had been taken to hospital, and 11 hours later my children had to hear on the radio that they still did not know where he was,” she explained.
“I know his agent is there, doing everything they can to find him. If he sees or speaks to him, he will undoubtedly bring me reliable news. Everything is perplexing.”
Atsu, 31, made 107 appearances for Newcastle before moving on to Chelsea, Everton, and Bournemouth.
Rupio last spoke with Atsu on Saturday morning. She called the club’s inaccurate news about Atsu’s rescue “quite shocking.”
“The club was confirming that he was found, alive, and taken to hospital, and 11 hours later my children had to hear on the radio that they still didn’t know where he was,” she explained.
“I know his agent is there, trying to find him. If he sees or speaks to him, he will obviously bring me reliable news. “Everything is perplexing.”
Atsu, 31, played 107 games for Newcastle before moving on to Chelsea, Everton, and Bournemouth.
