Christian Atsu, a former Newcastle midfielder, was discovered alive in the rubble of an earthquake that killed over 4,800 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria, according to Ghana's ambassador to Turkey.
Atsu, 31, joined Hatayspor, a Turkish Super Lig club headquartered in the southern region of Hatay near the epicentre of Monday's tremendous earthquake, in September.
"I have some wonderful news for you. "I just got word from the president of the Ghana organization that Christian Atsu has been found in Hatay," Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, referring to a local Ghanaian community association, told Accra-based Asaase Radio.
The envoy provided no other information on his condition.
On Monday, Hatayspor spokesman Mustafa Ozat told the Play Spor streaming channel that Atsu was still trapped in the wreckage and was attempting to flee.
After an initial loan season, Atsu played five seasons at Newcastle before departing for Saudi Arabia in 2021.
In September 2019, he won his 60th Ghana national cap.
"We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria," the Ghana Football Association tweeted.
Dozens of countries have provided assistance since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday while residents were asleep. The cold weather has impeded rescue efforts.
In Turkey, about 5,600 structures were left to rubble, including multi-story apartment buildings full of occupants, while Syria reported scores of collapses.
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