Sudden On-Field Accident
On 22 February, an unusual moment stopped an amateur football final in Istanbul and left fans in silence. During the Istanbul 1st Amateur League Play-Off Final in Zeytinburnu, a routine clearance changed everything. Istanbul Yurdum Spor goalkeeper Muhammet Uyanik kicked the ball high and far from his penalty area. Seconds later, a seagull fell from the sky.
The ball had struck the bird while it was flying above the pitch. Players looked confused at first, and many people in the stands did not understand what had happened. According to sources, the match paused immediately as attention turned from the ball to the injured seagull.
Goalkeeper In Shock
Uyanik later said he did not realize what he had hit. He saw something white drop from the air but only understood the situation when he walked closer. The goalkeeper remarked that he was appalled and very angry when he viewed the seagull on the grass.
He informed me that it was painstaking to know that some living being had suffered in the game. The football match stopped as players and officials gathered around. According to a video, the stadium became very quiet while everyone waited to see if the bird was still alive.
Captain Takes Action
Gani Catan, team captain, was responsive. He made a beeline up to the seagull and examined its condition. The bird stood still and appeared to be silent. Catan immediately started giving chest compressions, otherwise referred to as CPR. He was pressing his fingers on the chest of the bird and was doing it for about two minutes. Gradually he saw the legs and eyes of the seagull move. The bird began responding after some period. Water was introduced to get it to revive. Players then held the seagull in high esteem to the sideline where the medical staff was standing. The crowd had their eyes on the field as the hope was restored.
Medical Team Responds
The medical team examined the seagull and provided further care. Reports later confirmed that the bird suffered damage to its wing and could not fly for the moment. However, it survived the impact.
The seagull was taken for treatment after the match. Uyanik said he did not know where the bird was receiving care but hoped to visit if possible. The game eventually resumed, yet the mood had clearly changed. What started as a tense football final had turned into a rescue scene.
More Than a Championship
The match was beaten and Istanbul Yurdum Spor lost the championship. However, Captain Catan alleged that saving the seagull was more than winning. He admitted that losing was unpleasant, but it is something important to help save a life. It is not the final outcome of the Istanbul football game that will be remembered but what occurred on the field where one of the players was compassionate during the football game.
Watch the video here:
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