A 68-year-old Turkish imam died after collapsing during a prayer gathering at an airport on Friday, November 6, shortly before he was due to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
Abdullah Ozkan, a retired imam from the Beysehir district of Konya, was among around 180 pilgrims preparing to depart for Makkah. He had donned his traditional white Ihram garments before joining the group at Konya Airport.
A video of the incident showed Ozkan leading the farewell prayer with fellow pilgrims before suddenly collapsing while moving into prostration. Those gathered around him immediately rushed to his assistance.
According to Turkish news agency Anadolu, the pilgrims had assembled at around 2am after completing their travel formalities. Ozkan led the prayer before reciting the Talbiyah and blessings upon Prophet Mohammed.
Watch the video here
His voice reportedly weakened during the concluding supplications before he fell forward. Airport medical personnel immediately attended to him and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
He was subsequently taken by ambulance to Selcuk University Medical Faculty Hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite efforts to revive him.
Turkish media reported that Ozkan had suffered a heart attack, although the precise cause of death was not officially confirmed.
Ismail Gumus, a colleague who had worked with Ozkan for around 15 years, told Anadolu that the retired imam had shown no signs of illness before the incident. Gumus, who witnessed the collapse, said Ozkan’s voice began to weaken while he was reciting the final blessings before falling forward.
Ozkan was buried at Beysehir Cemetery on Friday following funeral prayers at Carsi Mosque in the district.
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Source: The Siasat Daily
