Ghanaian soccer player Christian Atsu was found dead under rubble early Saturday in Antakya, Turkey, 12 days after he was last found, his agent said.
• Also read: Survivor found 278 hours after Turkey quake
Atsu has been missing since strong earthquakes struck the region of Turkey where he was located on February 6. The player’s agent, Murat Uzunmehmet, informed the media that his body was found dead under the building where he lived and that other items belonging to him continued to be brought out, such as his phone.
The 31-year-old signed a contract with Hatayspor last September and was playing for the Turkish side at the time of the earthquake. The winger previously played for Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle, three English Premier League teams. He also scored a goal for Hatatyspor on February 5.
Various media outlets contradicted each other notably last week when some reported he survived the earthquake and was hospitalized. Hatayspor head coach Volkan Demirel said a few days later that his body was still being sought.
The death toll so far in Syria and Turkey after the February 6 earthquakes stands at 45,000.