The heartbreaking words from the florist who delivered the order to TUSAŞ martyr Zahide Güçlü Ekici.

37-year-old Zahide Güçlü Ekici, who worked as an engineer at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), lost her life in a terrorist attack that occurred while she was at the campus gate to receive the flowers sent by her husband for their 14th wedding anniversary. Ali Özdemir, who was delivering the ordered flowers from Eryaman to TUSAŞ, also escaped the attack 20 minutes later. Özdemir stated in an interview with AA that the flowers were ordered online and that there were often mishaps related to the flowers.

"THERE WAS A MISHAP WITH THAT FLOWER"

Özdemir expressed that there were some mishaps during the process of delivering the flowers, saying, "When we take the flowers out from here, we first take a photo of the flower and send it for the sender's approval. Our driver here accidentally took a photo of another flower and sent it, but approval came anyway. Later, we changed the flower to the one requested, but there was a mishap with that flower. Actually, we drop off the flowers in the Saray area before going there. That day, something protected us; we had no orders in the Saray area and went directly to TUSAŞ. Maybe if we had delayed a bit, we would have been right in the middle of the conflict," he said.

HE CALLED EKİCİ

Özdemir stated that he arrived at TUSAŞ at 3:00 PM and left 4-5 flowers, including the ones ordered for Ekici, at the mail distribution center at the gate where the attack occurred. He mentioned that he called Ekici at 3:06 PM and told him that he had left the red roses and chocolates, which were the wedding anniversary gift, at the mail center.

"IT WAS THE SADDEST ORDER OF MY LIFE"

Özdemir expressed that they were in shock when they heard about the attack, stating, "We had no idea about anything and returned to the shop. Around 4:00 PM, we learned that there had been a terrorist attack there. When we looked, it was exactly where we had left the flowers, and we realized that the flowers we left were for Ms. Zahide. We were very saddened. We made the delivery, but I wish we hadn't. It was the saddest order of my life, an order I will never forget until I die. I wish we had gone a little earlier or later so that order wouldn't have gone. There are still some flowers we left at the mail center." He added, "Maybe they would have coincided with that time. I hope we never have to face something like this again."