Turkish fathers drown or are critically injured rescuing children in seaside incidents

On 21 June, Fatih Kurutçu (45) entered the sea at Arsin district, Trabzon to save his 14‑year‑old son Yunus, who had been swept by a current. Both faced drowning; bystanders pulled them out, but Kurutçu died in hospital while his son remained in intensive care.

In a separate incident at Şakran Beach in Aliağa, İzmir, Serkan Ş. and his two children, aged 14 and 10, were caught in trouble while swimming on Father’s Day. Local residents alerted emergency services, and the father and children were rescued and taken to hospitals in serious condition. The father and one child continue to receive intensive care.

Both events highlight the dangers of unsupervised swimming and the risks families face when attempting rescues in strong currents.