Polish volleyball player still trapped in a destroyed city. “They are on their own”

Since Monday, thousands of people from Turkey and Syria have experienced a real nightmare thanks to the earthquake and aftershocks. Among them are e.g. Bartosz Bućko and Krystian Walczak, who were returning to Antioch, which is the seat of their club, from an away match in the morning. They could not enter the city due to the damage and difficulties. They separated then too. Their situation has been very different so far, but there is a chance that soon they will both be safe, away from the destroyed areas.

“They are practically on their own”

From Monday, the relatives of both volleyball players and Adrianna Grabowska also experience dramatic moments.

– I haven’t slept for three days – says Sport.pl, the president of the Brave Volley agency, with which Bućko and Walczak are associated.

During the return trip, the players of Hatay Buyuksehir Belediyespor learned about the earthquake and when they were close to the city, Bućko left his friends and ran to look for his wife and less than one year old son. After some time they managed to get to Mersin. Walczak, in turn, stayed with his colleagues and now remains in the abandoned Antioch. And in very difficult conditions.

– We had direct contact with Krystian last Monday at 17. Now the situation is that Bartek contacts the Turkish volleyball player who is with Krystian and gives us information. And contact is difficult because it breaks the connection, there is no internet – reports Grabowska.

He adds that most of the players from this club have already left the area. Walczak stayed with a few friends at the club resort.

– The structure of the building has been damaged, but it is stable enough to stop there. They’re doing fine, but they’re cold. It’s about 0 degrees Celsius, snowing, and they don’t have electricity. Apart from them, there is practically no living soul there. There are no emergency services in sight. Entry and exit is not possible. They are practically on their own – says the head of Brave Volley.

When asked if the club has organized any help, he admits that everyone there is now worried about themselves.

It’s bouncing off the wall. The club was supposed to organize some transport for them, but so far nothing has come of it – he recalls.

Grabowska and her colleagues sought help, among others from Sebastian Świderski, president of the Polish Volleyball Association, who used contacts in the world of politics. However, it turns out that social media can be helpful.

– I got contact about Miłosz Wieczorek, who lives in Mersin and has been helping the victims for three days. Within 2-3 hours it is to reach Krystian. I will be calm only when I find out that he is already sitting with this gentleman in the car – emphasizes the woman.

And he adds that then the 21-year-old player is to be taken over by a Pole working in Fenerbahce Istanbul, who in turn will transport him to Ankara or Istanbul.

Walczak is an attacker who until recently played in the first league BAS Białystok. Until very recently. He arrived in Turkey just over a week ago.

– He got there last Monday. He played a very good game on Sunday. It was supposed to help keep the club in the top flight – says Grabowska.

On the bus on the way to Ankara with his family is already Bućko, who has been staying in Mersin so far.

– When they get there, Mateusz Mika, who lives there, is to take over (he plays Tursad – editor’s note). Then we will deal with the provision of temporary documents for them, because they have nothing – reports the head of Brave Volley.

And it leaves no illusions about Antioch’s immediate future. – We won’t see volleyball there too soon. 70-80 percent of the city is destroyed, he says.

A state of emergency has been introduced in 10 Turkish provinces. More than 6,200 people died in Monday’s earthquake and aftershocks, according to current figures. people, and in Syria over 2.5 thousand.