Life story like a movie! Thought to be dead twice and placed in the morgue, became the most famous athlete in Trabzon.

The life story of Halil İbrahim Demirkanlı, also known as 'Patrona Halil', a 98-year-old man from Trabzon, surprises those who hear it. Born in 1929 in Ortahisar district of Trabzon, Halil İbrahim Demirkanlı faced difficult times in his childhood due to diseases such as typhoid, malaria, and rickets. While his peers played on the streets, Demirkanlı, unable to walk, was carried like a baby by his family. After being examined by the only child doctor in Trabzon, Demirkanlı, who recovered after the treatment, later discovered sports. Starting to do sports after school and whenever he found the opportunity, Demirkanlı participated in running races. Coaches noticed Demirkanlı's determination and took action. Starting with 1500-meter races, Demirkanlı went on to compete in 10,000-meter races and won numerous medals.



He did not give up athletics until the age of 30, becoming a renowned athlete in Trabzon. Demirkanlı, who also competed in various competitions in different cities, was a licensed athlete of İdmangücü team. After becoming the Director of Trabzon PTT Central Office, he participated in the 'Postman Walk Championship'. Demirkanlı, who became the first in his age group, later quit athletics.



After retiring from public institution, Demirkanlı worked as a general coordinator in many companies and dedicated himself to swimming. Despite being 98 years old, he amazed people by waking up early every morning and swimming in the sea regardless of the weather. Demirkanlı attributed his health to sports and regular nutrition, and he gave the medals he won in the past to his neighbors as gifts. Accepting his neighbors' offer to melt the bronze medals and use them for dental fillings, Demirkanlı told his life story as follows:



"I struggled with illnesses until the age of eight. Rickets, malaria, typhoid. My mother expected me to die. My father was not there. He died when my mother was pregnant with me. The neighbor said, 'this boy with blue eyes won't die'. He said, 'take him to a doctor'. My mother wrapped me in a towel and took me to the doctor. The doctor asked, 'Aunt, how do you treat him?' My mother said, 'I dilute yogurt and put the nightgown in it. Then I dress him and he wakes up after 2 hours.' But he used to faint again after two days. The doctor gave me something and saved me from malaria. My mother sent me to school and I got better. When I was going to school, I got typhoid. There was only one hospital in Trabzon. We were treated there. They put you in the middle of a basin and wash you with cold water. When you die, they take you to the morgue. You revive in the cold and they take you upstairs. I went up and down to the morgue twice. I died and revived. I stayed in the hospital for 27 days. Then I got better again. My mother sent me to school, but when I went to school, I was holding onto the walls. I was in elementary school. Everyone goes home after 3 o'clock and disperses. But I don't go. The schoolyard was long. I was walking around there. Slowly. When I was 11 years old, I became like this. A photographer took my picture and hung it in his shop."



Demirkanlı, who stated that he became a licensed athlete of İdmangücü after winning first place in a race against famous athletes, said, "One day I went to the field. There was a football match. I was around 11 years old. I was running on the field. I ran 11 laps there. I became the champion in the three-kilometer inter-school race in middle school. I failed at the end of middle school. There was a championship race in Trabzon. We went there by gathering from the neighborhood, but it was not for running. We entered there and my friends said, 'Hey boss, you should run too.' I said I would go, but we will run five kilometers; it was called Trabzon Championship and it was free. It was hot. There were famous athletes in the race. I became the first when the famous athletes were racing together, 20-30 meters before the finish line. After that race, I became an athlete of İdmangücü. After that, I ran every week. Trabzon was such a sports city that athletics was ahead of football. There would be a race every week. There were three thousand meters, Atatürk race, spring and autumn races, and I would come first in all of them. I couldn't run well in the 7,500 meters in one Atatürk race. I came second because I had nausea. Luckily, I had a second chance from that race, they called me again and I became first. Then I went to the Black Sea Championship. We went for the ten thousand meters as a team. We ran in Samsun. I became first there. Then we went to the Turkey competitions. I went to the race in the back of a truck. I finished fourth in that race because my leg cramped twice. In the races I entered, I only had sports clothes and a 5 lira daily wage. I had participated in 50 races since I was 14-15 years old. There was no national team at that time. But athletics was ahead of football. I became the Trabzon Champion in ten kilometers. I won a football ball. I gave it to someone in the neighborhood. I ran in Samsun. They gave me a gold-plated medal there. I also ran a marathon in Trabzon. There was a guy named Kemal. He used to call me 'Trabzon's unbeatable athlete, the champion of hearts'. My record in ten thousand meters was 32 minutes."



Demirkanlı, who continued to swim until the age of 75, said, "For example, I would run ten thousand meters, and I would train for 30 kilometers. I attribute my story to sports and walking. Also, everything I eat and drink is natural. I drink buttermilk, eat butter, and such things. My mother took good care of me. I never gave up swimming. I went to the sea wherever I found the opportunity. When I was the director of PTT in Yomra, I used to swim from Yomra district to Arsin district. It is 8 kilometers. I am not afraid of the sea. I use the sea like land. I am still in the sea," he said.



After retiring as the Director of PTT Trabzon Central Office, Demirkanlı stated that he worked as a general manager in many institutions.I passed the exams of PTT. I studied at PTT. After that, I was assigned as a civil servant in Trabzon. I completed my time there. After being a civil servant, I served as a reserve officer. After the military service, I stayed in Erzurum for 20 months. I came back to Trabzon. I worked as a government employee for 2-3 years. Then I went to Yomra as a manager. At that time, there were no educated people. Our situation was good. I stayed in Yomra for 3 years. I attended courses. I became the director of Rize. While I was the director of Rize, I continued my higher education at the Faculty of Business Administration. After that, I worked as an inspector for 7-8 years. Then I became the central director. I served for 20 years. After retiring, I worked as an expert in courts for 10 years. I also served as the general manager of Trabel for 5 years. After that, I worked as the general coordinator in companies. Meanwhile, I constantly hunted. I was a hunter in the mountains until the age of 75. I quit everything at the age of 80. My wife passed away 10 years ago. I have a coach son. His wife takes good care of me. We are together with my son, we are happy. I live with them. But on my free days, I always swim, walk. I do weight training as well," he said.

"THEY ARE SURPRISED WHEN I TELL THEM I'M 98 YEARS OLD"

Demirkanlı, who gives advice to young people, said, "People are scared when they see me. They are surprised when I tell them I'm 98 years old. There is something that Allah has given me. Allah gave me a brain. Can I live if I smoke or drink alcohol day and night? If I do sports, eat properly, I can live. Allah also helps. Now I think, let me go on like this for another 20 years. But only Allah knows, it is Allah's will. When I wake up in the morning, I boil an egg and eat it. I don't hold back in my throat. I need extra energy. I don't like sweets and pastries. Even at the age of 60, I was swimming in the sea in the snow and storm. Young people should do sports. They should quit useless things. If they want to live a healthy life, they should do sports. They should pay attention to their meals. They should not smoke," he said.