Ferry victim gave life jacket to daughter, sister says at Mersin funeral

Mersin, Turkey. Gulcan Gurel gave her life jacket to her daughter as a ferry began to sink off the coast of Kyrenia on Sunday, her sister Eda Payam said at Gurel’s funeral on Tuesday.

Payam, who survived the disaster, said Gurel told her: “My daughter is entrusted to you from now on.”

Family account

Payam said she, Gurel, their father Bayram and Gurel’s daughter Tusem had travelled to Cyprus to visit their brother Mehmet, a soldier based on the island.

As the ferry returning them to Turkey began to capsize and panic ensued, Gurel removed the life jacket she was wearing and gave it to her daughter, Payam said.

Gurel’s body was flown from Cyprus to Cukurova airport near Mersin on Tuesday.

Second funeral

Later on Tuesday, the funeral of Fahri Ates, another victim of the ferry disaster, was held in his hometown of Erdemli, west of Mersin.

Ates, a sergeant in Turkey’s gendarmerie, had travelled to Cyprus for a summer holiday with his wife, Fahri. Their son Atabey had not travelled to Cyprus but attended the funeral.

Mersin deputy governor Mehmet Ali Ozkan, provincial gendarmerie commander Sinasi Guclu and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Search operations continue

The ferry began to capsize shortly after departing the new port of Kyrenia at around midday while en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu.

Eight people have been confirmed dead. Search-and-rescue operations have continued for four consecutive days for 20 people who remain unaccounted for, according to official figures.