05.07.2026 09:10
In Özvatan district of Kayseri, a child who entered the river to cool off was swept away by the current. The father, who tried to save him, disappeared in the water. The child was rescued by holding onto a tree branch, while search efforts for the father continue.
In the Özvatan district of Kayseri, father M.E. (40) disappeared in the water while trying to save his child H.E. (11), who was swept away by the current in the Kızılırmak River while trying to cool off. H.E., who held onto a tree branch, was rescued by gendarmerie teams, while a search operation was launched to find M.E.
CHILD HOLDING ONTO TREE BRANCH RESCUED
The incident occurred around 16:00 in the Kızılırmak River passing through Küpeli neighborhood of Özvatan district. Syrian national M.E. went to the riverbank with his family for a picnic. After a while, his child H.E., overwhelmed by the heat, entered the water. Seeing H.E. swept away by the current, father M.E. jumped into the river. After ensuring his child held onto a tree branch, father M.E. disappeared in the current. Upon notification, gendarmerie, AFAD, fire department, UMKE, police divers, medical teams, and Türkuaz Underwater Search and Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. Gendarmerie teams rescued the child holding onto the branch and handed him over to medical teams.
SEARCH OPERATION CONTINUES FOR FATHER MISSING IN WATER
H.E. was taken to Özvatan State Hospital after initial medical intervention. Teams began searching for father M.E., who disappeared in the water. It was learned that the search and rescue operations, suspended due to darkness, will resume early tomorrow morning.