24.03.2026 17:26
Amateur mountaineer Umut Tanrıkulu, who went missing during a summit climb in the Salihli district of Manisa, was found alive in a vineyard house in the Kiraz district of Izmir where he had taken refuge. It was understood that Tanrıkulu spent the night he went missing in a hole he dug, thus surviving the challenging weather conditions.
Umut Tanrıkulu, a 53-year-old amateur mountaineer who went missing in the Salihli district of Manisa, was found in a vineyard house in the Kiraz district of Izmir where he had taken refuge.
LOST HIS DIRECTION WHEN CAUGHT IN A SNOWSTORM
Amateur mountaineer Umut Tanrıkulu began his ascent to Bozdağ for a summit climb from the Burhan neighborhood of Salihli on March 21. Due to adverse weather conditions in the area, Tanrıkulu lost his direction after a while and called 112 for help. Many search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area following the report. The search efforts, which were halted the previous evening due to snowfall, resumed in the morning hours.
SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE PIT HE DUG
Teams reached the pit that Umut Tanrıkulu had dug in the area where he went missing. It was learned that Tanrıkulu had dug a deep pit and spent the night there before continuing his journey. A backpack belonging to Umut Tanrıkulu and personal belongings were also found next to the pit. It was revealed that Tanrıkulu had also live-streamed on his social media account during the summit climb.
SMOKE COMING FROM THE VINEYARD HOUSE SAVED HIS LIFE
It was reported that over 100 personnel, along with approximately 30 vehicles and 5 drone teams, supported the search efforts conducted in the field. The teams continuing the search followed the tracks and reached the Kiraz district of Izmir.
Eyüp Çoban, the headman of Çatak neighborhood in Kiraz district, also participated in the search efforts for Tanrıkulu. Çoban, who headed towards the Akçay area of Çatak neighborhood around 10:00 today to find Tanrıkulu, noticed smoke coming from the chimney of the vineyard house. Upon entering, Çoban encountered Tanrıkulu.
"HE CAME CRYING BUT NO ONE HEARD HIS VOICE"
Çoban recounted the events as follows:
"In the Akçay area of Çatak neighborhood, we saw smoke coming from the chimney of our vineyard house, which is not used in winter and is at an altitude of about 1200 meters. Suspecting something, I immediately called 112. We found the missing mountaineer inside. He had been there for 2 days. He said he was caught in a snowstorm and lost his direction. He came crying but no one heard his voice. He only tried to survive by drinking water. He was very scared and in shock. We offered him tea and food. His health condition was good. The teams came and took him away."
It was reported that Tanrıkulu was handed over to health teams as a precaution.