One of two children who fell into irrigation canal in Menemen district of İzmir lost their life

The chain of disaster that started in Yahşelli Neighborhood of Menemen district emerged when police and health teams were dispatched to the area following a report about children falling into an irrigation canal in the evening. A child noticed floating and swept away by the current was removed from the water thanks to the courageous intervention of bystanders, administered first aid, and then taken to Menemen State Hospital. While the little child, whose condition remained critical, needed to be transferred to Bayraklı City Hospital, which has more advanced treatment facilities, the teams at the scene identified the rescued child as Bünyamin F.

After the news of the incident broke, a Syrian family residing in the area called the gendarmerie teams, reporting that they could not reach their own child Ahmed Sido and that he had gone out to look for his friend. Upon this tip, AFAD, gendarmerie, health teams, and Menemen Municipality Search and Rescue (MAKUR) teams initiated a comprehensive search in and around the irrigation canal. While the teams struggled against the current, the role of local resident Erman Kara in the rescue operation clearly revealed the tragic dimensions of the event.

Erman Kara, who tried to save Bünyamin F. by pulling him out of the water, described the unfortunate moments in detail, stating that he ran to the scene after his brother-in-law called him and said he saw a child in the canal. Kara, seeing the child being dragged face down, immediately jumped into the water, but unable to fight the current, managed to pull himself and the child to the side by holding onto the pipes on the water. Kara, who performed CPR on the child for about half an hour, handed the child over to the health teams after ensuring his consciousness gradually returned.

Despite the rescue of Bünyamin F., hopes dwindled over the hours as the fate of Ahmed Sido remained uncertain. The intense and meticulous search efforts continued by the teams until late night hours faced great difficulties due to the risky structure of the irrigation canal in the residential area and challenging viewing conditions. Unfortunately, as a result of the hopeless search that lasted for hours, the lifeless body of the little child was found in the irrigation canal and pulled to the shore by the teams.

Following the completion of examinations at the scene, Ahmed Sido's body was taken to the Menemen State Hospital morgue for autopsy and necessary procedures. This incident sparked serious concern and discussion among authorities and citizens regarding the safety of irrigation canals in the region and the monitoring of children in such dangerous areas. While everyone involved in the rescue operation expressed deep sadness over the conditions that prevented reaching the second child and the tragic outcome, it was reported that a mood of mourning prevailed in Menemen.