07.02.2025 15:51
The number of people who have died from counterfeit alcohol in Ankara and Istanbul has risen to 103. One of the victims in the capital was Celalettin Rumi Kahraman. His mother, Sevim Kahraman, said, "I was angry with him. Many people have died; I told him to stop drinking this alcohol. He didn't say anything to me. Those who drink should take this as a lesson. There is no escape from this."
Seventy people died and 150 people were hospitalized between January 14 and February 6 in Istanbul due to counterfeit alcohol. Today, Governor Vasip Şahin, who shared information about the counterfeit alcohol toll in Ankara, stated that 33 people have died and 20 people are being treated in intensive care.
FAINTED AFTER CONSUMING COUNTERFEIT ALCOHOL
On the evening of January 25, 62-year-old Celalettin Rumi Kahraman, who consumed counterfeit alcoholic beverages at his home in Altındağ, went to the hospital after suddenly fainting. Kahraman, who interrupted his treatment at the hospital, fainted again at his home after returning. With the help of his neighbors, Kahraman was taken back to the hospital, but he returned home again after stopping his treatment for the second time. A few days later, after experiencing discomfort for the third time, Kahraman was transferred to the hospital by ambulance after health teams were notified by his neighbors. After being kept under observation for a while, Kahraman passed away on February 3 despite all interventions. Kahraman, who was diagnosed with a heart attack, was buried at Cebeci Cemetery.
"I WOULD GET ANGRY AT HIM, TELL HIM NOT TO DRINK"
Grieving mother Sevim Kahraman stated that she was unaware of her son's use of counterfeit alcohol. Kahraman noted that her son, who constantly consumed alcoholic beverages, did not heed warnings, saying, "I am very sad. Others should not drink this. I did not know my son was using illegal alcohol. I learned after he died. He constantly drank alcohol, but I did not know it was counterfeit. I have no idea if he knew he was drinking counterfeit alcohol. He did not talk to me much about these matters. I would get angry at him and tell him not to drink. He never said anything to me. He drank every day. He started drinking after he retired. It seems that at first, it was real.
"HE SAID, 'I CAN'T SEE ANYMORE'"
Describing that her son had been experiencing constant discomfort in recent days, Kahraman said, "My other son called me. He said they took his brother to the hospital. They had put an IV on my son there. He left the hospital and came home before the IV was finished. I had called him. He came home shortly after. I got angry and asked why he came from the hospital. He took off his clothes and started sitting at home. At that moment, something strange happened to him. I asked a boy who works at the shop below our house for help. The boy who came to the house said, 'I only took a sip of alcohol, I spat it on the ground.' When he fainted, we took him back to the hospital. They put an IV on him again there, but my son again left the treatment and came home. This time, he was in worse condition. When he fainted, we tried to put on the oxygen machine. His movements were strange; I couldn't understand what was happening. He told me, 'I can't see.' We asked the same boy for help again and told him to come home," she expressed.
"I LOST MYSELF WHEN I LEARNED HE DIED"
Expressing her deep sorrow for losing her child, mother Kahraman said, "I screamed at home thinking my son had died. They took me outside. They tried to intervene at home. An ambulance came. We took my son to the hospital again. The doctors intervened. They said he was fine, but then he passed away. When I learned, I screamed. I fainted too; I lost myself," she stated.
"LET THEM TAKE A LESSON, DON'T DRINK"
Mother Kahraman emphasized that everyone should learn a lesson, saying, "I was angry at him. Many people have died; I told him to quit drinking this alcohol. He said nothing to me. I am addressing those who drink from here. Let them take a lesson, don't drink. There is no escape from this," she said. - ANKARA