Ex-Premier League star Christian Atsu dies aged 31 as body found in rubble 12 days after he went missing in Turkey quake

FOOTBALL ace Christian Atsu has been found dead 12 days after the Turkey earthquake, his agent confirmed today. The 31-year-old ex-Newcastle and Chelsea player went missing after his home in Kahramanmaras was destroyed by the devastating quake. PAChristian Atsu went missing after the quake[/caption] GettyHe was tragically found in the rubble 12 days after the earthquake hit[/caption] GettyThe building where Atsu and sporting director Taner Savut lived[/caption] The former Chelsea player plunged from the ninth floor of his apartmentTwitter/@ajansspor “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay, where the athlete’s body was found. “Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found.” Atsu had plunged from the ninth floor of the building after it collapsed, his agent initially said. A spokesman for his club Hayatspor said the winger had been rushed to hospital with unspecified injuries after a miracle rescue. But Atsu’s agent later said the star’s whereabouts was unknown. His body was tragically discovered in the rubble on Saturday, Sechere confirmed. Earlier footage showed rescuers with search lights sifting through the wreckage of Atsu’s apartment block on the first night of the natural disaster. His voice was then heard in the rubble, along with that of Hatayspor’s Sporting Director Taner Savut, local media reported. Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of Turkey hours before the quake. But Hatayspor’s manager said the Ghanaian opted to stay with the club after scoring the game-winning goal in a February 5 Super Lig match. The massive 7.8 magnitude quake stuck early on Monday, February 6, and killed more than 33,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Two further earthquakes struck in the 24 hours after the initial tremor, leaving a trail of destruction. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. TwitterJust hours before the earthquake, Atsu scored a last minute free kick[/caption]