In an unusual and widely shared moment from a lower-level football match in İstanbul, Turkey, an amateur player saved the life of a seagull that was struck by a ball during play.
The incident happened on February 22 when a kick from the goalkeeper hit a low-flying seagull in the air during the Istanbul First Amateur League Play-Off Final between İstanbul Yurdum Spor and Mevlanakapi Güzelhisar.
The bird fell to the ground and lay motionless, unable to move or breathe. Seeing this, Captain Gani Çatan, a 32-year-old amateur footballer and accountant, ran over from his position and immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the injured bird.
He pressed repeatedly on its chest to help restart its breathing. After nearly two minutes of chest compressions, the seagull began to show movement in its legs and eyes again, a sign that it was responding to the effort. Çatan then picked up the bird and carried it to the touchline, where medical staff were able to take over its care.
The moment drew strong reactions from fans and commentators, with many praising Çatan for his quick thinking and compassion in a situation no one saw coming.
The match briefly paused as he attended to the seagull, and footage of the rescue quickly spread on social media as many viewers hailed the act as a rare and humane gesture in football.
While the team ultimately lost the match, Çatan said afterwards that saving the bird’s life mattered more than the result. The seagull was said to be under treatment for a damaged wing, and its condition remained a point of interest in follow-up reports.
This story has since been shared internationally, standing out as a moment of care and kindness in sport that reached far beyond the local match.
