Pilot Oğuz Kök, who was on the Cook Islands-flagged 176-meter NEW SIHAM ship at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus, fell into the sea and died due to hypothermia.
* Click to watch the falling moments (Turkish)
The driver also lost consciousness
It was learned that the boat crew tried for a long time to get Kök, and in the meantime, the boat’s engineer, who jumped into the sea to help, lost consciousness. It was learned that Kök died as a result of hypothermia caused by staying in the water for half an hour. According to experts, the device for picking up people from the sea should be made mandatory on boats.
Statement from the Coastal Police
In the statement made by the General Directorate of Coastal Safety (Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü), our Pilot Oğuz KÖK, who fell into the sea during the transfer while joining the ship to provide pilotage service at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus, was martyred. “May God have mercy on our maritime martyr, we wish patience to his grieving family, loved ones and the maritime community.” It was learned that Kök was a 1983 deck graduate of ITU Maritime Faculty.
He received an award for courage
Kapat. On February 21, 2002, Oğuz Kök managed to stop the tanker “Genmar Star”, which was carrying jet fuel and whose rudder was broken, in front of Dolmabahçe Palace and prevented a major disaster. In a ceremony held during the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping (DTO) Assembly Meeting, a plaque and an award were given to Oğuz Kök, who worked as a pilot at TDİ Istanbul Port Authority. Kök said, “I receive this plaque on behalf of all pilots.”
The funeral of the deceased will be buried in Karacaahmet cemetery tomorrow (05.02.2024), Monday, at 10:30, after the official ceremony to be held at KEGM Beylerbeyi Campus and the noon prayer to be performed at Sahrayıcedit Mosque.
As NewsatSea, we wish God’s mercy on the deceased and offer our condolences to his family and the maritime community.
