Christian Atsu hospitalised after he is caught up in Turkish earthquakes

Chritian Atsu, the former Chelsea and Newcastle United footballer, has been found alive and taken to hospital with injuries after Monday’s devastating Turkish earthquake.

Atsu, 31, plays for Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor in Kahramanmaras, which was one of the regions hit hardest by 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude quakes on Monday.

He was reported missing and feared trapped alongside several of his Hatayspor team-mates and staff. But on Tuesday morning Hatayspor manager Mustafa Ozat confirmed that Atsu had been rescued.

“Christian Atsu was removed from the wreckage with injuries,” said Ozat, who confirmed that rescue efforts were continuing for other club members.

Watch: Death toll from earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria rises to more than 4,000

“Unfortunately, our sporting director Taner Savut is still under the rubble.”

Atsu’s team-mates Burak Oksuz and Bertuf Yildirim were among those reportedly pulled from a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, a city around 50km from each of the quake’s epicentres. Oskuz wearing a Hatayspor jersey.

Hatayspor technical director Ekrem Eksioglu, coach Osman Ates and player Kerim Alici have also been confirmed to be safe.

Atsu was part of the Newcastle team which won promotion back to the Premier League in 2017 after joining on loan for the season from Chelsea, and later completed a permanent move.

Atsu, who scored deep into stoppage time on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa, left St James’ Park during the summer of 2021 after making 121 appearances for the club.