Turkey earthquake: Ghanaian superstar Atsu's body flown home

 

According to the country's foreign ministry, the remains of former Ghana international footballer Christian Atsu, who died in a devastating earthquake in Turkey, were being flown home on Sunday.

On February 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 44,000 people in both countries.

The former Chelsea and Newcastle player was reported to have been rescued the day after the earthquake, but this turned out to be false, and his body was discovered on Saturday.

"The remains will be flown by Turkish Airlines to Accra (Ghana's capital) at 7:40 p.m. Sunday, accompanied by his family and Ghana's ambassador to Turkey," the foreign ministry said.

According to the ministry, Atsu's older brother and twin sister were present at the site of the rescue when his body was recovered on Saturday.

His widow, Marie-Claire Rupio, and their three children were in the stands at St James' Park in London on Saturday to pay their respects before Newcastle's Premier League match against Liverpool.

On February 5, hours before the earthquake struck, Atsu scored the last of his 33 career goals for Hatayspor in Turkey's Super Lig.

He previously played for his national team the Black Stars and Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo said "football has lost one of its finest ambassadors, one who will be difficult to replace".