A footballer turned first responder when he performed emergency CPR on a seagull struck by a ball during a match in Istanbul this week — successfully reviving the stunned bird, reports AFP.
The incident occurred during an amateur playoff match between Istanbul Yurdum Spor and Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar. According to a club official, the low-flying seagull was hit by a powerful clearance from Istanbul Yurdum Spor’s goalkeeper and fell motionless to the ground.
As players and spectators watched in disbelief, team captain Gani Catan rushed to the bird’s side and began administering rudimentary CPR, gently pressing its ribcage in an attempt to restore its breathing. Footage shared by team manager Fatih Buyuk shows Catan carefully tending to the stricken bird on the pitch.
“Something was falling and I realised it was a seagull. The first thing that came to my mind was heart massage, because it couldn’t breathe, so I tried my luck,” Catan told Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.
After several tense moments, the bird began breathing again. Catan then carried it off the field to medical staff, who took over its care.
The seagull reportedly suffered a damaged wing, though its condition after the match was not immediately known.
Despite the dramatic rescue, Istanbul Yurdum Spor lost the match and were knocked out of the playoffs. But for Catan, the result mattered less than the life he may have saved.
“We missed out on the championship, but it’s a wonderful thing to have helped save a life,” he said. “That was more important than the championship.”
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
