Christian Atsu's partner Marie-Claire Rupio speaks about his tragic death, six months after the Turkish earthquake disaster which killed the former Newcastle star
- Christian Atsu's partner Marie-Claire spoke about his tragic death six months on
- The former Newcastle star was a victim of an earthquake in Turkey in February
- The 31-year-old was a charity ambassador, and helped to build a school in Ghana
Christian Atsu's partner Marie-Claire Rupio has opened up about his death in the Turkish earthquake disaster six months ago - including telling their children the tragic news.
The former Newcastle and Ghana star was in Turkey playing football for Hatayspor, when the devastating natural disaster hit the country in February, while his family remained back in Newcastle.
His body was found under rubble after 12 days of searching in the aftermath of the earthquake. He was 31. His body was flown to Ghana for his burial in March, which was a memorial attended by hundreds of people, including Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Six months on from Atsu's death, Marie-Claire took part in her first media interview with BBC Radio 5 Live's Naga Munchetty.
Atsu had scored the game-winning goal in a Super Lig match on February 5, and this was what their last contact referred to.
![Christian Atsu's partner has opened up about his death in a Turkish earthquake six months ago](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/14/17/68817265-12405741-Atsu_was_promoted_to_the_Premier_League_with_Newcastle_during_th-a-1_1692031514236.jpg)
Christian Atsu's partner has opened up about his death in a Turkish earthquake six months ago
![In her first media interview, Marie-Claire Rupio spoke about telling their children the sad news](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/14/17/74304739-12405741-image-m-4_1692031797316.jpg)
In her first media interview, Marie-Claire Rupio spoke about telling their children the sad news
![He was buried in March in a memorial attended by hundreds, including the Ghanaian President](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/14/17/68817947-12405741-A_military_honour_guard_carries_the_remains_of_Ghana_soccer_play-a-17_1692032263047.jpg)
He was buried in March in a memorial attended by hundreds, including the Ghanaian President
Marie-Claire said: 'On Sunday evening, I did send him a message saying "Oh, congratulations on your goal", and he said "Thank you". And that was basically the last message I received from him before the earthquake.'
Their children were nine, six and three at the time of the tragedy, and understandably, it was difficult for Marie-Claire to know how to inform them of Christian's passing.
Marie-Claire explained the circumstances of being told that his body was found - and still found it hard to talk about. 'I think it was about three or four o'clock in the night when the agent called me and broke that to me,' she revealed.
'So when he called me, I went outside my room, and then he told me, "I'm sorry, but it's him". And at that time, I couldn't really cry, because I think I was in shock, because I still was hoping for a good outcome because they'd still pulled out a few people alive. I would have believed and thought that he is a strong man, and he would survive this.
'Then the next morning, my children did have football, and I didn't want to take that from them. So I went with them to football to have some of "their time". And then after, I had to sit them down and explain it to them.
'Yeah, it's not easy. Let's say that. I think every parent would say that to tell a child that their dad is not there anymore, it's not something you want to wish on anybody.'
Following Christian's death in February, she is working to ensure that Atsu's name and legacy live on.
'For me, it's very important that his name is still there, especially for the children, that he was known, that he was loved by everybody.
'I just hope that his name will never go away.'
Atsu won 65 caps for Ghana since his international debut in 2012, helping the Black Stars reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, and despite playing football in Europe, he was keen to help his home nation too.
![Atsu had been with Hatayspor in Turkey, and scored a winning goal just days before his death](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/14/17/67720749-12405741-Atsu_had_been_playing_club_football_in_Turkey_since_he_joined_Ha-m-5_1692031851782.jpg)
Atsu had been with Hatayspor in Turkey, and scored a winning goal just days before his death
![Atsu's career saw him play in six different countries](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/14/18/67722775-12405741-Atsu_s_career_saw_him_play_in_six_different_countries-m-21_1692032439184.jpg)
Beyond football, Atsu was an ambassador for children's charity Arms Around The Child (AATC)
His widow explained to the BBC: 'He helped a lot of charities, even in the UK. He's helped a lot of people in Ghana. You can't really talk just about [his] talent, he's been a good person as well.
'The people who are close do know that, even from the outside as well, they have seen it. He's built a school for children in Ghana and that's something that not everybody would do, if they have money.'
Atsu played for Porto, Newcastle, Al Raed and Hatayspor during his career, as well as loan spells at Rio Ave, Vitesse, Everton and Malaga.
Other than playing football, Atsu was an ambassador for global children's charity Arms Around The Child (AATC) from 2016 until his death, as well as working to build the school in in Senya Beraku.
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