07.06.2026 00:40
A 52-year-old retired police officer who jumped into the waves to save his 8-year-old son, who was at risk of drowning in the lake in Bursa's İznik district where they were vacationing, lost his life after being caught in a current; the young child, pulled from the water by nearby citizens, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
In the İznik district of Bursa, retired police officer Sinan Çağlayan (52), who noticed his son was in danger of drowning in a lake they entered together, disappeared in the waves while trying to save his child. While the little boy was rescued from the water by the intervention of nearby citizens, the lifeless body of the unfortunate father was found.
HE SAVED HIS SON, GOT LOST HIMSELF
The incident occurred around 18:00 on the shore of Lake İznik. According to the information obtained, retired police officer Sinan Çağlayan, who came to İznik from Eskişehir for a holiday, entered the lake with his son Y.Ç. (8) to cool off. After a while, little Y.Ç., who had drifted away from the shore, began to struggle as he had difficulty swimming in the water.
Seeing his son in danger of drowning, father Sinan Çağlayan immediately rushed forward to intervene. Overcome by the waves, the devoted father disappeared from sight after a while. Citizens on the shore noticed the situation, immediately ran to the lake, and managed to pull 8-year-old Y.Ç. out of the water.
SAD NEWS CAME AFTER AN HOUR-LONG SEARCH
Upon notification, gendarmerie, health, and diver police teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. Y.Ç., rescued by citizens, was taken to the hospital by ambulance after initial medical intervention at the scene and placed under treatment.
A search and rescue operation was launched by diver police to find the retired police officer Sinan Çağlayan, who had disappeared in the lake. After intense efforts lasting about an hour, Sinan Çağlayan's lifeless body was found. The body of the unfortunate father, removed from the water, was sent to the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institute morgue for autopsy procedures.
A comprehensive investigation into the incident has been initiated.