19.03.2026 11:25
Yunus Güray, who came to Antalya for a holiday from Germany at the end of 2016 for New Year's, fell into a pit left unprotected at an archaeological excavation site under the supervision of the Museum Directorate. Güray sustained a 3% disability in his foot, and the case was taken to court. In the lawsuit filed due to the negligence of the Museum Directorate, it was decided that Güray would be paid 1 million 50 thousand TL in compensation.
In the Tophane Tea Garden area, located in the Kaleiçi Urban and 3rd Degree Archaeological Site, the case regarding Yunus Güray, who fell into a 2-meter pit while on vacation from Germany during the excavations and restoration works carried out within the scope of the 'Antalya Republic Square and Tophane Tea Garden Arrangement Revision Project', has concluded. In the case file at the Antalya 4th Administrative Court, it was stated that Yunus Güray, who arrived in Antalya from Germany on December 31, 2016, and wanted to watch the celebrations in Republic Square around 00:30 on January 1, 2017, fell into a 2-meter pit and was seriously injured on his foot.
EXPERT REPORT: NO PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
It was noted in the expert committee's examination that necessary precautions were not taken to prevent citizens from falling into the mentioned excavation pits outside of working hours, where archaeological drilling excavations were conducted under the supervision and control of the Antalya Museum Directorate, in accordance with the decision of the Cultural Heritage Protection Regional Board.
APPEAL APPLICATION REJECTED
In the compensation case opened on behalf of Yunus Güray, who underwent 6 surgeries due to his injury from falling into the drilling pit under the responsibility of the Museum Directorate, a total of 1 million 50 thousand TL in material compensation was requested to be paid with legal interest from the date of the incident. In the decision of the Antalya 4th Administrative Court, it was stated that according to the situation revealed in the expert examination; the archaeological drilling excavations, which were cited as the cause of the damage claims, were carried out under the supervision and control of the Antalya Museum Directorate, and there were decisions from the Cultural Heritage Protection Regional Board regarding this. It was determined that the security measures taken were not sufficient under occupational safety rules and that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was 100% at fault for the damage incurred. The decision stated, "Therefore, it is clear that the material damages suffered by the plaintiff due to the service defect of the administration should be compensated by the defendant, and it was concluded that a total of 1 million 50 thousand 745 TL in material compensation, consisting of 1 million 45 thousand TL as permanent incapacity compensation determined by the expert report and 4 thousand 927 TL for treatment expenses, should be paid to the plaintiff with legal interest starting from the application date of May 8, 2017." The appeal application for the stay of execution against the compensation decision of the Antalya 4th Administrative Court was also rejected by the Antalya Regional Administrative Court's Fourth Chamber.
"THE AREA AROUND THE PIT WAS NOT PROTECTED"
Describing the day of the incident, Yunus Güray said, "It was New Year's Day, we landed at the airport. There were 3-5 people that day. We took a taxi together. We came to the city having fun. I settled into the hotel and said, 'Let's see how they celebrate New Year here.' It had only been 1-2 hours since I arrived. I went down towards the Marina. There was an elevator on the left, there were cafes where there used to be green areas. They had made a fire there. They were dancing, there was an enclosed place. I said, 'Let me cross over and look at the fire.' There were stairs 50 meters ahead. I didn't see the pits, I fell 2 meters down while walking on one foot. I broke my foot at the heel, at the joint. The area was not protected. I returned to Germany by private plane a week later," he said.
"THERE'S METAL IN MY LEG, THEY LEFT ME DISABLED"
Güray, who stated that they presented photos and videos related to the incident to the court, said, "They ruined my life, there's metal in my leg, they left me disabled. They were almost going to amputate my foot. I have a permanent disability now. I couldn't recover for a year, I was undergoing surgery every two weeks. I stayed in the hospital in Germany for 3 months and I have a 3% disability in my foot," he said.
"THEY CLOSED THE PITS 3 MONTHS LATER"
Yunus Güray, who found the compensation amount low, said: "My flight cost was only 22 thousand euros. It has been 9 years, it wasn't just one pit. They dug, dug, and left it. This incident happened right in the center, if it were in the middle of a forest, I could say, 'Okay, I have my fault too. I went and fell.' But in the city center, it was not surrounded. It was a lush area, it was nighttime. I took them to court, and they closed those pits 3 months later. There were dug pits in 6-7 places. It wasn't just one. There is still metal in my leg. There was no fair decision."
"THE INSTITUTION HAS 30 DAYS TO PAY"
Yunus Güray's lawyer Belemir Davaslı, who stated that the appeal process of the opposing party is ongoing, said, "But it was ruled that compensation should be paid. The institution has a 30-day payment period. We are waiting, if they do not pay, an appeal can be made. But the decision has not been finalized yet. The opposing party has appealed. The compensation, which was decided to be paid around 1 million 50 thousand TL, will be paid with interest, and calculations will also be made regarding this. Assessments and damages are being made according to the health status, how much disability remains. The court is also evaluating these," he said.