04.09.2025 04:04
While traveling from Yalova to Bozcaada, the lifeless body of businessman Halit Yukay, whose boat had been found broken in the sea, was recovered from a depth of 68 meters after 19 days.
The lifeless body of businessman Halit Yukay was retrieved from the sea days later.
HALIT YUKAY'S LIFLESS BODY WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE SEA Halit Yukay, who set sail from Yalova on August 4 at 15:10 with his boat named 'Graywolf' to go to Bozcaada, was found 19 days later at a depth of 68 meters after his boat was wrecked and partially submerged 7 miles off the coast of Erdek, Balıkesir.
In the operations conducted from the TCG Alemdar ship, the remains, which were determined to have been dragged approximately 400 yards by ROV, were retrieved from the sea in one piece by divers using a surface-supplied diving system around 19:25. It was learned that the lifeless body would be taken to Bandırma after the necessary procedures were completed.
SCRATCH MARKS IN FRONT OF THE SHIP While the investigation continues, the radar movements of the ship that allegedly collided with Halit Yukay's wrecked yacht have emerged. In the examination by the Coast Guard teams, it was determined that there were scratch marks on the front of the bulk carrier. The Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has scrutinized the ship traffic in the area and the route of 'Arel 7'. Two photographs showing the scratch marks on the ship were also included in the investigation file. In a photo taken in Çanakkale one day before the accident, no marks were seen on the front of the ship, while in a photo taken on August 5 in İzmit, where the ship was delivering its cargo, the distinct marks and impact on the front of 'Arel 7' were notable.
FOOTAGE ENTERED THE FILE Footage of the moments when the bulk carrier named 'Arel 7', which is believed to have collided with Yukay's boat, arrived at İzmit Port has been obtained. In the security camera footage, it was seen that at around 04:00 on August 5, the captain of 'Arel 7', Cemal Tokatlıoğlu, and the crew disembarked from the ship at 04:17, approached the front of the ship, and then stopped at the bow to look at the ship again. These images, along with the photographs of the ship that had distinct scratch marks on its front, were also included in the investigation file.
LAST SPOKE WITH A FAMOUS ACTOR Meanwhile, it was reported that Halit Yukay's actor friend Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ was the last person to speak with him over the phone as part of the investigation. In his statement given in Istanbul on August 11, Tatlıtuğ said, "The last time I spoke with him was on Monday, August 4, at 17:09 for 37 seconds over WhatsApp. Since I was in Greece and my friend who was departing from Yalova could not get a signal due to the area, we were communicating through this channel. Before that, at 14:28, I received a call from Halit Yukay, but I couldn't answer because I was unavailable. Immediately after that, at 14:29, Halit Yukay texted me, 'Kıvanç, greetings, the service has arrived. They will come to install the part tomorrow. I have set off. I will be with you tomorrow, best regards.' I called him at 15:10, but he didn't answer because he was at sea. He called me back at 15:14, but I couldn't answer again. We were both in a busy situation. When I called him at 17:09, he answered my phone. We had a 37-second conversation. His voice was quite calm and came from a quiet place. When I spoke to him on the phone, he told me that everything was fine, that he had set off, and that the weather was not bad, that everything was going very well, in a very relaxed tone."
I CONTINUED TO CALL AND MESSAGE In his statement, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ said that according to Halit Yukay's program, he would stay one night in Bozcaada and then continue his journey depending on the weather, and that on August 8, Yukay's wife, children, his own wife, and a couple with their children would continue their vacation in Greece. He said:
"After talking on the phone at 17:09, I asked him for his location in the 37th second, 'Where exactly are you?' He told me, 'Brother, I am approaching Marmara Island. I will be in Bozcaada by evening before it gets dark.' After saying, 'Everything is under control, don't worry,' I asked him again to tell me his exact location. I said, 'Tell me your location, I will also calculate where you are going.' Immediately after the location conversation, I heard a voice that had entered a strong wind. I witnessed that the phone did not work in certain places in the Marmara Island area. Four weeks ago, I took my own boat along the same route with Halit Yukay from Yalova. Therefore, I thought the phone would work, and we would talk after a while, so I didn't panic. I continued to call and send messages intermittently. I thought his battery had died. Later, I called Eren from Halit Yukay's team. He said that the situation of Halit not answering the phone could be due to the line being down there, that normally there are few situations where he cannot be reached while sailing, but we should not panic, and that he would continue to call later. I learned that he could stay in Çeşme if the weather was bad after Bozcaada because he was a good sailor. During that time, as more people were unable to reach Halit, the necessary channels were informed about the situation. Since that day, we have been searching for our brother."
It was also noted that after the last time Tatlıtuğ spoke with Yukay at 17:09, he repeatedly called and messaged him.