02.09.2026 13:12
The body of Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Fahri Ateş, who lost his life when a passenger ship capsized off the coast of Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), was laid to rest in his hometown of Mersin.
The body of Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Fahri Ateş, who lost his life when a passenger ship capsized off the coast of Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), was laid to rest in his hometown of Mersin.
The 28-year-old Ateş's body, who died in the accident when the ship that set sail from Girne Port in the TRNC to Taşucu Port in the Silifke district of Mersin capsized on August 30, was taken to the cemetery in the Çerçili Neighborhood of the Erdemli district.
DENSE ATTENDANCE AT THE FUNERAL
The funeral prayer held here was attended by Ateş's wife Ayça, who survived the accident, his father Yüksel and mother Kadriye Ateş, as well as Deputy Governor Mehmet Ali Özkan, İYİ Party Deputy Chairman and Mersin Deputy Burhanettin Kocamaz, AK Party Mersin Deputies Ali Kıratlı, Hasan Ufuk Çakır and Havva Sibel Söylemez, Provincial Police Director Fahri Aktaş, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Şinasi Güçlü, and citizens.
BID FAREWELL IN TEARS
During the ceremony, health personnel intervened when Ateş's father fainted. His wife and relatives, who kissed his coffin wrapped in the Turkish flag, shed tears.
After the prayer, Ateş's body was laid to rest accompanied by prayers.
HE HAD TAKEN HIS WIFE AND SON ON HOLIDAY
It was stated that Fahri Ateş, a gendarmerie specialist sergeant serving in Istanbul, went to the TRNC for a holiday with his wife Ayça, a nurse, and his 4-year-old son Atabey, after coming to his hometown Erdemli during his annual leave.
HE RETURNED TO GET A LIFEBUOY FOR HIS FAMILY
It was learned that Ateş, who realized the passenger ship they boarded on the way back from holiday was about to capsize, took his wife and son to a safe place on the deck and lost his life when he got trapped while going down to get a lifebuoy'ı almak için aşağı indiği sırada kapana kısılıp yaşamını yitirdiği belirtildi - This part seems to translate as 'went down to get a lifebuoy' in Turkish, but in English it should just say 'to get a lifebuoy'. Let me correct that: '...lost his life after being trapped while going down to get a lifebuoy.'
THE SHIP DISASTER
The high-speed passenger ship named "Filo Jet" operating on the line between Girne Port in the TRNC and Taşucu Port in Mersin began taking water from its front shortly after departing from Girne on Sunday afternoon. Of the 241 people rescued from the ship, which capsized while trying to return to Girne Port, the bodies of 8 people were recovered, and a search operation was launched for 20 missing people.
It was reported that the wreck of the sunken ship was found at a depth of 550 meters in the sea.