Christian Atsu's former charity Arms Around The Child pay tribute to a 'unique and wonderful man' after ex-Premier League forward's tragic death in Turkey earthquake, as they add 'his legacy will live on through the thousands of lives he has helped'
- Christian Atsu was found dead following the earthquake in Turkey on Saturday
- The 31-year-old's whereabouts were unknown after the disaster on February 6
- His former charity Arms Around The Child has paid tribute to a 'wonderful man'
Arms Around the Child have paid tribute to their former ambassador Christian Atsu as a 'unique and wonderful man' after his tragic death in Turkey.
The former Newcastle forward was found under rubble 12 days after the devastating earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria last week.
He had been missing since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that took place in the early hours of the morning of February 6, but one of his agents confirmed his body had been discovered on Saturday morning.
Atsu had worked with Arms Around the Child, a British charity which supports orphanage sites, since 2016 and made yearly trips to their sites in his native Ghana. He regularly sent gifts and football equipment to the charity's home in Senya Beraku.
While playing for Newcastle in 2018, the footballer held a gala in the city to raise funds for Arms Around the Child's campaign to build a school for orphaned children.
![Christian Atsu was found dead following the earthquake in Turkey on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/20/02/67847025-11768885-Christian_Atsu_was_found_dead_following_the_earthquake_in_Turkey-a-119_1676860833462.jpg)
Christian Atsu was found dead following the earthquake in Turkey on Saturday
![Arms Around the Child, a charity that Atsu worked with, has paid tribute to the former Premier League forward as a 'wonderful man'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/20/02/67847861-11768885-Arms_Around_the_Child_a_charity_that_Atsu_worked_with_has_paid_t-a-118_1676860833296.jpg)
Arms Around the Child, a charity that Atsu worked with, has paid tribute to the former Premier League forward as a 'wonderful man'
![The 31-year-old was heavily involved with a school building project in his native Ghana](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/20/02/67847867-11768885-The_31_year_old_was_heavily_involved_with_a_school_building_proj-a-120_1676860833633.jpg)
The 31-year-old was heavily involved with a school building project in his native Ghana
In a statement released on Sunday, the charity said: 'It is with immense pain and disbelief that we have to write these words. Our deepest condolences are with Christian's family, wife, children and many friends and lives that he touched.
'Christian Atsu was a truly unique and wonderful man, and his legacy will live on through the many hundreds if not thousands of lives he has helped. He will live in our memories as one of the kindest, most talented, humble people to enter this world.
'A young boy from poverty in Ghana who followed his dreams, had an incredibly successful footballing career and used his talent and platform to help others.
The charity revealed they were in contact with Atsu earlier this month, when he told them he would send money to help with the school building project.
Their statement continued: 'Arms Around The Child were fortunate to have known Christian and will treasure his support for the children we look after, especially the children in Senya Beraku where Christian was building a school in the local community.
'He never forgot his own roots and didn't want to see any more children abused, imprisoned, affected by HIV, trafficked or sold.
![Tributes have flooded in for Atsu from across the footballing world](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/20/02/67846969-11768885-Tributes_have_flooded_in_for_Atsu_from_across_the_footballing_wo-a-121_1676860833802.jpg)
Tributes have flooded in for Atsu from across the footballing world
![A minute's silence was held for the former Newcastle forward ahead of the Magpies' game against Liverpool](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/20/02/67846967-11768885-A_minute_s_silence_was_held_for_the_former_Newcastle_forward_ahe-a-117_1676860833108.jpg)
A minute's silence was held for the former Newcastle forward ahead of the Magpies' game against Liverpool
'Whenever Christian visited Senya, the children and the community were always so happy to see him. They would welcome him like a hero, but also like a father, uncle or brother as everyone felt such a close affection for him.
'Christian loved the children and would always throw his shoes off to play barefoot football with them, something he loved to do whenever he visited.'
A minute's silence was held for Atsu ahead of Newcastle's game against Liverpool yesterday, after the club called their former player 'a talented player and a special person.
There were other tributes from across the football world, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and John Terry remembering their teammate from his time at Everton and Chelsea respectively.
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