Stranded Treasure Hunters Draw Quite a Crowd

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 20 April 2019)


                                  In search of fools gold.


Near Elbeyli village in Bursa's İznik district, 8 treasure hunters entered
a well 30 meters deep the evening before last.  But the fumes from the
generator they were using to provide light affected them negatively. 
Of the group, İ.H. was able to escape from the well and he fled the
scene with 3 others who were serving as look-outs.

Based on a tip, Gendarmerie, AFAD (search & rescue), health
providers and firefighters, totalling 120 personnel (!), reached the
site of the well - only with difficulty because it is located in a
mountainous area. The 7 individuals remaining in the well were
threatened by rising water so the rescuers provided them with an
air hose.  Racing against time, the rescuers set up a tripod over the
well entrance and lowered AFAD personnel into the well.  Over
the course of the next 13 hours (!), the seven stranded treasure
hunters were raised to the surface.

However, Mümin S. (60) died en route to the hospital.  Treatment
for the remaining individuals, including Mümin bey's son Halil S.
(39), Ömer K. (35), Recep E. (58), Güney K. (46), Nihat E. (48)
and Adem M., is continuing at the hospital.