US EditionTurkish Footballer Revives Stunned Seagull with CPR During Match
Istanbul Yurdum Spor captain Gani Catan instinctively performed CPR on a seagull hit by a clearance kick, reviving it before medical staff took over, officials said.
- On February 22, 2026, Istanbul Yurdum captain Gani Catan performed CPR on a motionless seagull during a playoff final between Istanbul Yurdum Spor and Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar, reviving it before handing it to medical staff.
- Muhammet Uyanik's clearance struck a low-flying seagull in midair, knocking it down in the 22nd minute and prompting the referee to stop play as players checked the bird.
- Quick-Thinking captain Gani Catan began chest compressions, pumping the bird's ribcage with teammates and opposition players watching, though he said it was a reflex without formal training.
- Medical staff took over at the touchline, and play resumed, with Istanbul Yurdum losing 4-2 on penalties; the seagull was seen walking but has wing damage and will not fly soon.
- Captured on video and shared widely, the clip drew social-media attention on Reddit and live commentary from Onur Ozsoy, who called it rarely seen in football history recalling a 2018 A-league match.
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112 Articles
Turkish Soccer Player Performs CPR On Seagull Mid-Match After It's Struck By A Ball—And It Survived
In a playoff match full of high stakes, one player ended up fighting for a very different kind of win—one that came with feathers.Let’s start at the beginning. As reported by The Guardian, in the 22nd minute of the Istanbul First Amateur League playoff final between Istanbul Yurdum Spor and Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar in Zeytinburnu, goalkeeper Muhammed Uyanik scooped up the ball with the league title hanging in the balance.With no safe pass in sight…
Gani Catan, who became a star on social media after a video was released showing him giving a heart massage to a gull hit hard by a ball during an amateur football game in Turkey, went back on this viral sequence.
Curious and at the same time very touching: In an amateur football game in Istanbul, a long ball meets a seagull – the animal falls to the ground lifelessly, but the team captain saves it.
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