31.08.2026 19:51
The heroism of Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Fahri Ateş, who risked his own life to save his family on the passenger ship that sank off the coast of Kyrenia, broke hearts. After saving his wife and child, Ateş went back down to the lower part of the ship to find life jackets for them, but this time he could not surface. His family was saved, but the heroic soldier lost his life in the disaster.
It emerged that Gendarmerie Staff Sergeant Fahri Ateş, who managed to save the lives of his wife and 4-year-old child on the passenger ship Filo Jet, which sank off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), once again faced death for his family. It was understood that Ateş went back down to the lower part of the ship to find life jackets for his wife and child, and that the young man, who ensured his family's survival, lost his life as he could not escape from the sinking ship.
HE RE-ENTERED THE SHIP FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILD
Gendarmerie Staff Sergeant Fahri Ateş, who was on duty in Istanbul, had gone to Cyprus for a holiday with his wife and 4-year-old child. Shortly after they boarded the Filo Jet for the return journey, heading from Kyrenia to Mersin Taşucu, it turned into the center of a disaster.
As the ship capsized, Ateş first tried to ensure the safety of his wife and child. It was stated that the staff sergeant, who managed to save his family, then went down again to the lower part of the ship to find life jackets for them.
However, it was reported that as the ship completely sank, Ateş could not resurface and lost his life. His wife and child were rescued from the accident and taken to the hospital.
THE SHIP CARRYING 267 PEOPLE CAPSIZED WITHIN MINUTES
The high-speed passenger sea bus Filo Jet, owned by Filo Denizcilik, set off from Kyrenia Port to Mersin's Taşucu Port at around 12:30 on August 30.
There were 267 people on board, including 259 passengers and 8 crew members. It was reported that shortly after leaving the port, the ship began taking on water from its front section and tried to turn back. It was stated that the ship then capsized and sank off the coast of Kyrenia.
So far, it has been announced that 8 people have lost their lives in the disaster and 241 people have been rescued. Search and rescue efforts continue at sea to reach the missing; during the day, different figures of 18 and 20 were shared regarding the number of missing.
FAHRİ ATEŞ IS ALSO AMONG THE 8 PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
In addition to Fahri Ateş, the names of those who lost their lives in the disaster were announced as Nuray Zeytun, Nihat Balyemez, Reyhan Verim, Gülcan Gürel, Hüseyin Özdemir, Nisa Toker, and Nurcan Haliloğlu.
As part of the investigation into the accident, 14 people, including the captain, crew, and company employees, were brought before the court; a three-day detention order was issued for 9 suspects.