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Is Christian Atsu OK? Soccer star among those trapped under rubble in Turkey earthquake

'My guy Christian Atsu - a man with a good and big heart - I am fervently praying for you. May God protect you,' wrote a fan

UPDATE: Christian Atsu has been found alive and rescued from the rubble. He is currently recovering in a hospital.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY: At least 1,400 people have been killed and over 5,000 injured after two back to back earthquakes, measuring 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale hit Turkey and northern Syria in the early hours of Monday, February 6. Devastating, heartbreaking sights, are flooding social media as people from around the world, including celebrities and leaders, who are sending their prayers for those who continue to be trapped in the rubble. 

The death toll in both Syria and Turkey is expected to climb as officials continue rescue operations, ss per the latest update. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country will be sending aid to victims in both Turkey and Syria. Meanwhile, as the two governments scramble to minimize damages, another piece of concerning news has just come to the fore: Soccer star Christian Atsu, who has represented Chelsea and Newcastle in the past, is reportedly among those trapped under the rubble in Turkey.

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Is Christian Atsu OK? 

Atsu, one of the star wingers of the Ghana national football team, is presently associated with Turkish Super Lig club, Hatayspor. A search and rescue operation is currently underway for Atsu and some of his team members who are reportedly still trapped in the rubble. Some members of his new team have been rescued, Mirror reported. 

Apart from Atsu, Turkish goalkeeper Eyup Turkaslan is also reportedly among those trapped under wreckage following the tremor. Two hospitals have reportedly collapsed in the Hatay province. The tragic earthquake came only hours after Atsu scored a magnificent goal to grab all three points for Hatayspor, the club he joined last summer.

At the time of writing this report, no new updates about Atsu's condition had been found. Rescuers were still working to locate and rescue him, along with some more of his team members. Meanwhile, prayers are pouring in for the Ghana soccer player, with fans hoping that the 31-year-old is alive and fine.

'Pray he's found alive and unhurt'

As the death toll due to the devastating earthquakes continues to climb, soccer fans from around the world are sending in their prayers for Atsu, hoping that rescuers find him alive and fine. "My guy Christian Atsu - a man with a good and big heart - I am fervently praying for you. May God protect you," wrote one fan.

Whilst, another stated, "I'm disheartened by the sudden news of our Ghanaian professional footballer, Christian Atsu, trapped under the rubble of the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey." A third Twitter user wrote, "Challey... God please, rescue Atsu. Our prayers with the people of Turkey." "Seriously this Christian Atsu story is heart wrenching! Not the news I want to hear at all! Pray he’s found alive and unhurt!" noted another fan. 

UPDATE: Christian Atsu found alive inside rubble!

In a major relief to the fans, Atsu was found alive inside the rubble and rescued. He is currently undergoing treatment and is expected to make a full recovery, as per a tweet by sports journalist Owuraku Ampofo. "Never say never, never give up," Ampofo wrote in his tweet expressing how everyone wanted to wake up to this news.

Earlier, soccer writer Collin Millar had confirmed the development by informing that "Christian Atsu has been found alive inside rubble after the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey and neighboring nations." Millar also informed that the soccer star was transported to a hospital with breathing difficulties and an injury to his right foot.

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