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A Boy’s Challenging Journey on Prosthetic Legs Following Turkey’s Earthquake By Reuters

By Clodagh Kilcoyne

LONDON (Reuters) – In the early hours of February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey, resulting in the collapse of a five-storey building in Hatay where 13-year-old Mehmet Koc lived. Tragically, his older brother Emre, 14, and their mother Didem were killed in the disaster, while Mehmet was buried under the rubble.

Mehmet survived, but it took rescuers 76 hours to reach him amid the debris of his home. Once he was in a hospital, doctors determined that both of his legs were so severely crushed that they needed to be amputated below the hip.

Meanwhile, in London, Mehmet’s father Hasan was anxiously awaiting news of his family. Upon learning about the earthquake, he immediately flew to Turkey and traveled to Hatay. Upon arrival, he was confronted with a scene of devastation and learned that his wife and eldest son had perished, but that Mehmet was alive and trapped beneath the rubble.

Unable to speak directly to his son, Hasan relayed messages through a teenage neighbor, Hayrettin, who was trapped closer to the surface. Hayrettin encouraged Mehmet to stay awake and call for help as rescuers worked to free him.

In a hospital interview last February, Mehmet recalled, “I was yelling ‘help’. Our neighbor Hayrettin was telling me when to yell and I was yelling for help when he told me to.” He described feeling confused when he was rescued, saying he wanted water and immediately saw his family outside once he was pulled from the wreckage. Doctors indicated that even an hour’s delay in rescue could have proven fatal.

After spending two months in a hospital in Turkey, Mehmet was finally well enough to return to Britain. Hasan, who had immigrated to Britain in the 1990s and holds British citizenship along with Mehmet, remarkably found his son’s damaged British passport in the rubble.

One year on, the father and son are living together in a small flat in Hackney, East London, both mourning their loss and slowly learning to cope with the tragic circumstances. “We are trying to get used to life,” Hasan shared.

Mehmet has started school and is making progress. “He tells me, ‘Dad, we cannot bring them back or change what happened. Let’s forget about it all and move on,’” Hasan said, highlighting his son’s resilience.

Managing his son’s numerous medical appointments and seeking social services support is challenging, particularly since Hasan resigned from his job as a school caretaker to care for him. “I am very sad but I try not to show it when I am around him. He is very brave and he supports me a lot,” Hasan reflected.

Mehmet is currently receiving treatment at a specialized hospital in London, where he has been fitted with prosthetic legs. He is working hard to regain his strength through rehabilitation. However, adjusting to the prosthetics is a struggle, as fitting them correctly requires time and may involve further surgeries as he grows. It’s noted that walking with these prosthetics can consume 300% more energy than natural walking, a challenge that is particularly difficult for children.

In his spare time, Mehmet enjoys playing video games, staying in touch with friends in Turkey, including his grandmother, and keeping up with football, where he roots for Manchester City and idolizes striker Erling Haaland.

Recently starting school in London after receiving home visits from a local teacher, Mehmet is gradually adapting to his new environment. Simon Joseph, a teacher specializing in medical needs, praised Mehmet’s warm nature and sense of humor during their sessions.

The earthquake in Turkey, the worst in modern times, resulted in over 50,000 fatalities and left countless others with life-altering injuries. In Syria, the disaster claimed around 5,900 lives. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to rebuild affected areas, but the overwhelming emotional toll on those impacted by the disaster is significant, according to the World Health Organization.

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