トルコ地震で犠牲のアツ選手、母国ガーナに無言の帰国

【アクラＡＦＰ＝時事】トルコとシリアを襲ったマグニチュード（Ｍ）７．８の地震の犠牲になったサッカー元ガーナ代表ＭＦクリスティアン・アツ選手（３１）の遺体が１９日、母国に到着した。（写真はアツ選手）
　アツ選手については、当初は地震翌日に救出されたとの報道もあったが、誤りであったことが判明し、１８日に遺体が発見された。同国外務省は「遺体は家族とガーナ大使とともに、空路でトルコを離れ、１９日の午後７時４０分（日本時間２０日午前４時４０分）に（ガーナの首都）アクラに到着する予定だ」と発表。その後、コトカ国際空港でアツ選手の遺体は親族らに出迎えられた。
　外務省は１８日、遺体が発見された現場にアツ選手の兄と双子の姉妹がいたことを発表。同日行われたイングランド・プレミアリーグのニューカッスル・ユナイテッド対リバプールの試合では、アツ選手が以前所属したニューカッスルの本拠地に妻と３人の子どもが姿を見せ、試合前の哀悼のセレモニーに参加した。
　アツ選手がトルコ１部リーグで所属していたハタイスポルはツイッターで、「われわれの悲しみは言葉では言い表せない」と話し、「君を忘れない、アツ。君に平穏があらんことを、美しい人よ」と悼んだ。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/02/20-12:53）

The remains of former Ghana international footballer Christian Atsu who died in a devastating earthquake in Turkey were being flown home on Sunday, the country's foreign ministry said.
Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 44,000 people in both countries.
There were initial reports the former Chelsea and Newcastle player had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false and his body was found on Saturday.
The remains will be accompanied by his family and Ghana's ambassador to Turkey on a Turkish airlines flight and will arrive in Accra (Ghana's capital) at 7:40 p.m. Sunday, the foreign ministry said.
On Saturday, the ministry said that Atsu's older brother and twin sister were present at the site of the rescue when his body was recovered.
His widow Marie-Claire Rupio and their three children were in the stands at St James' Park on Saturday to join in a tribute to the player before Newcastle's Premier League match against Liverpool.
Atsu scored the last of his 33 career goals for Hatayspor in Turkey's Super Lig on February 5, hours before the quake struck.
There are no words to describe our sadness, tweeted his Turkish top-flight club in homage to him.
We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person.
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.