Claim raising suspicion about the missing Russian swimmer: He has come ashore.

28.08.2025 02:22

Amateur swimmer Hayati Şamiloğlu, who warned Russian swimmer Nikolai Svechnikov that he was going in the wrong direction during the race held in the Istanbul Bosphorus, stated, "I believe the swimmer made it to shore and did not drown in the sea." Şamiloğlu, who also showed the coordinates where he encountered Svechnikov, said, "He made a gesture as if to say 'don't interfere with me' and continued swimming."

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Search efforts continue for Russian swimmer Nikolai Andreevich Svechnikov, who went missing during the Bosphorus Intercontinental Swimming Race held on August 24 with the participation of 2,820 athletes from 81 countries.

SAID HE WARNED THE RUSSIAN SWIMMER

Hayati Şamiloğlu, an amateur swimmer and construction engineer among the participants, called the 112 Emergency Call Center yesterday after news about Svechnikov's disappearance appeared in the media, stating that he saw this person during the race and warned him for going in the wrong direction.

COORDINATES RECORDED

Upon this notification, Şamiloğlu was taken by a coast guard boat from Kuzguncuk Pier and brought to the last place he saw Svechnikov. The coordinates he indicated were recorded.

"I WARNED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS GOING THE WRONG WAY"

Hayati Şamiloğlu stated that thousands of people participated in the race with three different colored caps. He mentioned that the first group of participants had red caps, and he thought Svechnikov was in the second group with green caps, saying, "We encountered this swimmer in the middle of the sea. When I saw that he was swimming in a different direction, southeast instead of the direction every swimmer was swimming, I called out to him 'bro bro' 10-15 times, and finally, he heard me. During that time, he was approaching and was a very fast swimmer, faster than me. When he heard me and looked at me, I pointed to the right and told him 'Wrong way'."

"HE MADE A MOVEMENT LIKE 'DON'T INTERFERE'

Şamiloğlu, who indicated the wrong direction Svechnikov was swimming in with hand gestures, continued: "He heard me, seemed to understand, but made a gesture as if to say 'I know what I'm doing, don't interfere' and continued swimming in the same direction. He was a very strong swimmer. A Russian Olympic swimmer, a record holder, was said to have 'been caught in the current.' There wasn't much current in the Bosphorus that day. The wind wasn't strong, and there wasn't much current. Even if there was a lot of current in the Bosphorus, at worst, you would be swept south. It's not like capsizing or being pulled under the water by the current as it happens in the Black Sea. I thought he was a swimmer who had lost his direction because many swimmers lose their direction every year, but usually, the duty boats warn them. It is strange that this swimmer has come out of the view of those duty boats. I think the swimmer made it to the shore and did not drown in the sea. He was swimming intentionally, knowing his target. He didn't seem to be lost."

"ADVANCED CHIPS SHOULD BE USED"

Şamiloğlu stated that the chips worn by athletes are insufficient, as they only calculate the moment swimmers enter the water and when they reach the shore, and said that more advanced chips should be used.

"HE DID NOT CHANGE HIS COURSE"

Şamiloğlu noted that he had seen swimmers losing their direction in previous years' races and warned them, stating that he even warned a person who did not hear him by touching him, saying, "But this person did not change his course despite my warning."

"I CALLED 112 WHEN I RECOGNIZED HIM"

Şamiloğlu explained that he never expected Svechnikov, who appeared to be a strong swimmer, to go missing, saying, "Yesterday, when I saw his picture in the press, I recognized him by his face, saying 'Oh, this is the person who lifted his head out of the water and looked at me.' Once I recognized him, I called 112. 112 also directed it to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard came and picked me up from Kuzguncuk Pier, and we went to the scene. We made location and coordinate determinations. I provided them with the necessary information in an official report."

Source: AA / DHA