Limits to Bravery

(Sözcü and Haberturk Newspapers, 1 February 2011)

Bekir Bakır, the 'unknown hero', saved three people in a burning
building in Mersin in August but he had no such valiant sentiments
for his wife more recently.

During the fire on 15 August on the fourth floor of an apartment
building in Mersin, Bakır had grabbed a flashlight from firemen
and rushed in to save 10-month old Güneş baby and retiree Mehmet
Erol (60) and his wife Funda Erol.

A few days ago, however, Bakır (26) went to the home of the father
of his wife Filiz (24) in Gaziantep in a rage. Filiz had fled there after
an argument with Bakır and then refused Bakır's reconciliation
proposal.  Bakır ran over Filiz with his car and fled. The mother
of his two children was taken to the hospital for treatment while
police set out to capture Bakır.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Bolu, Abdullah Gergen (33)
climbed to the top of a light pole at the local stadium, claiming
that he was penniless and would commit suicide. After 45 minutes,
however, the father of three found it much too cold atop the 15-
meter pole and came down.