Doctor Şahin Bingüllü dies in Ayvalık boat sinking after putting life jackets on children

A private excursion boat carrying 9 people sank off the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir on the evening of 24 October. Coast Guard teams rescued 8 of those aboard. The body of Dr. Şahin Bingüllü, an otolaryngology (ENT) specialist at Burhaniye State Hospital, was recovered about 15 hours later.

Bingüllü's body was taken to the morgue of Ayvalık State Hospital. His relatives gathered in front of the hospital and were deeply grieved.

Survivors recount events

Survivor Metin Özmen said they had gone out to sea with friends to fish and decided to return because of the weather. He said that when the boat began taking on water, the captain handed out life jackets and Bingüllü put them on the children.

Dönerken anlamadığımız bir şekilde teknemiz su almaya başladı, kaptan içeriden can yeleklerini verdi. Şahin Bingüllü hocamız yelekleri çocuklara giydirdi. Herkes can yeleklerini giydi. Sahil Güvenlik'i aradık, durumumuzu anlattık.

Metin Özmen

Özmen said Bingüllü was initially fine, put on his life jacket and entered the water, and that they talked for about 15-20 minutes. He said contact was lost when waves came and they did not see him again.

Another survivor, Murat Eygin, said Bingüllü had called him wanting to go fishing. Eygin said the weather turned bad after they set out, that on the way back they put the children in the front cabin because they were cold, and that Bingüllü went to join them because he was also cold, playing games and asking them riddles.

Su alınca can yeleklerini çıkardılar, hocam herkese dağıttı, hatta çocuklara da giydirdi. En son anlamadığımız bir şekilde tekne arka kısmından battı.

Murat Eygin

Eygin said that when the boat sank they held on to the railings while Bingüllü was in the water. He said one of their friends kept talking to him and Bingüllü said he was fine, but once the Coast Guard arrived they could no longer hear his voice. He said they told the rescue teams that one more person was in the sea.