04.05.2025 09:30
İYİ Party member Turhan Çömez reported that Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who passed away yesterday, had called him about 1.5 months ago asking for help. Çömez stated, "He asked me, 'I have a very serious aneurysm in my aorta. I have seen many doctors in Turkey, and they advised me to see a doctor abroad. Can you help me get in touch with a doctor from outside?'"
The Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and DEM Party Istanbul Deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder passed away yesterday (May 3) at the age of 62 in the hospital where he was receiving treatment. A statement from the hospital reported that Önder died due to multiple organ failure. His death has plunged the art and political community into mourning. İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez shared on a program he attended on Sözcü TV that Önder had called him 1.5 months before his death and asked for help.
"MAY HIS PLACE BE PARADISE"
Çömez said, "Politically, our common ground with Mr. Sırrı was very limited, and we criticized each other harshly. However, this did not prevent us from understanding each other. He was an important politician, may God have mercy on him, and I say may his place be paradise."
"HE SAID, 'CAN YOU CONNECT ME WITH A DOCTOR FROM ABROAD?'"
Sharing an anecdote that occurred between him and Önder, he said: "One day he called me and said; 'Doctor, I have a health issue and I need your help for this. I have a very serious aneurysm in my aorta. I have seen many doctors in Turkey, and they have given me advice; can you connect me with a doctor from abroad?'"
"YOU ARE DISTURBING MY ROUTINE"
Çömez stated that he consulted with some of the most important heart and vascular surgeons in England and made an appointment with one of them, sending Önder's triggers. "The doctor said; 'yes, it's a serious situation, but you need to do the following, but please quit smoking.' I turned to him and said, 'Look, Mr. President, you need to quit smoking,' and he replied, 'You are disturbing my routine,'" he expressed. Çömez mentioned that after this, he reacted strongly to Önder regarding smoking and tried to take the cigarette from his hand whenever he saw him.