02.09.2026 11:40
Gulcan Gurel, a Mersin City Hospital employee who lost her life in the ship disaster in Girne, TRNC, put her life jacket on her daughter Eda and was swept away by the waves herself. It was learned that before she died, Mother Gurel told her sister, 'From now on, my daughter is entrusted to you.' She was sent off on her final journey with a ceremony held at the hospital.
A ceremony was held in the hospital garden for Gülcan Gürel, a subcontractor employee of Mersin City Hospital who lost her life in the ferry disaster that occurred off the coast of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It was reported that Gürel took off her life jacket and put it on her daughter Eda as the ship began to capsize, while she herself was swept away by the waves and lost her life.
The body of Gülcan Gürel, who lost her life on the passenger ship that capsized while sailing from Kyrenia to Mersin's Taşucu Port, was brought to Çukurova Airport by plane last evening. Gürel's body, brought to Mersin from there, was taken to the hospital morgue.
CEREMONY HELD IN HOSPITAL GARDEN
A ceremony was held today in the hospital garden for Gürel, who was known to have worked at Mersin City Hospital for a long time. In addition to Gürel's family and relatives, Provincial Health Director Mustafa Ekici, Hospital Chief Physician Mehmet Ballı, hospital staff, and many citizens attended the ceremony.
At the ceremony, Gürel's relatives and colleagues could not hold back their tears. After the prayers, Gürel's body was taken to Güneyken Cemetery for burial.
SHE HAD GONE TO VISIT HER SOLDIER BROTHER
It was learned that Gülcan Gürel had gone to the TRNC with her father Bayram Payam, her sister Eda Payam, and her daughter Tusem to visit her brother Mehmet Payam, who is a military personnel. The family, who boarded the passenger ship to return to Mersin after the visit, found themselves in the middle of the disaster.
SHE PUT THE LIFE JACKET ON AND ENTRUSTED HER DAUGHTER TO HER SISTER
It was reported that during the panic that ensued as the ship began to capsize, Gülcan Gürel took off her life jacket and put it on her daughter Eda. It was learned that Gürel said to her sister Zahide, "My daughter is entrusted to you from now on."
SHE SAVED HER CHILD, BUT LOST HER OWN LIFE
It was stated that Gürel, who was revealed to have made a great sacrifice for her child during the disaster, gave her life jacket to her daughter, enabling her to hold on to life.