Footballer saves stricken seagull hit by ball during match
A Turkish footballer has been hailed as a hero after his quick thinking and impromptu cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saved the life of a seagull struck by a football during a crucial match.
The extraordinary incident unfolded during the first half of the Istanbul First Amateur League playoff final between Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar and Istanbul Yurdum Spor in Zeytinburnu.
Istanbul Yurdum Spor goalkeeper Muhammet Uyanik’s powerful clearance up the pitch unfortunately connected with a passing seagull, sending the bird plummeting to the turf, unresponsive.
💥🇹🇷 In Turkey,during local football domestic match a goalkeeper accidently seagull with the ball but a player perfom CPR on it and saved its life. pic.twitter.com/EZDHcjDayd
— International Observer (@Intlobserver0) February 24, 2026
Witnessing the bird’s distress, team captain Gani Catan immediately rushed to its aid.
Without hesitation, he began performing chest compressions and CPR on the stricken bird.
His swift actions proved successful, as the seagull soon showed signs of movement.
Catan then cradled the recovering bird and carried it to the touchline, where it was handed over to medical staff for further care.
Istanbul Yurdum Spor later celebrated their captain’s compassion on Instagram, stating: “Our captain Gani Catan brought the seagull back to life thanks to the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) he performed on the field.”
Although his team ultimately lost the championship match, Catan expressed no regrets, remarking: “We missed out on the championship, but helping save a life is a good thing. This was more important than the championship.”
The incident puts Turkish football in the spotlight for a very different reason amid an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting.
Turkish authorities detained 32 individuals last week, including several football club executives, as part of a burgeoning investigation into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting across the nation’s professional leagues.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrests last Friday.
According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office, those apprehended are suspected of placing bets on games involving their own clubs, with some even wagering on opposing teams during official fixtures.