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A seagull was struck by a soccer ball while flying over the field during a recent amateur match in Istanbul. The bird quickly fell from the sky and laid motionless for a matter of moments.
Cameras captured a player using CPR to resuscitate the injured animal. He was able to revive the seagull before sending it off for treatment.
VIDEO — Istanbul footballer performs CPR on seagull after it was struck by a ball during amateur match, reviving the bird before it was taken for treatment https://t.co/URjDbuJGtL pic.twitter.com/IzMMzBuxHP
— Daily Sabah (@DailySabah) February 24, 2026
Soccer player revives seagull during match.
The amateur match was played between Istanbul Yurdum Spor and Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar. It was a playoff final according to the Daily Sabah.
Istanbul Yurdum Spor goalkeeper Muhammed Uyanik was the player that accidentally hit the bird. His clearance attempt made direct contact with the seagull as it flew unusually low over the field.
“I didn’t realize the ball had hit a bird. I felt very bad afterward. It affected me deeply. After all, it’s a living being.”
– Muhammed Uyanik
Teammate and captain Gani Catan was quick to action. He jumped in to save the day.
“Something was falling and I realized it was a seagull,” Catan said. “The first thing that came to my mind was heart massage because it couldn’t breathe, so I tried my luck.”
The seagull will be ok.
Catan helped bring the seagull back from unconsciousness. Officials say the bird is still receiving treatment for a damaged wing.
This is far from the first run-in we’ve seen with birds and sports.
Randy Johnson’s unintentional annihilation of flying fowl comes to mind. A more lighthearted moment involving a friendly exchange between a warbler and Cardinals’ pitcher went viral a few years later.
In 2022, NASCAR saw its own bird-related incident mirroring something from a horror film when hundreds flew into the Hall of Fame building.
In this latest case, it appears there will be a happy ending. The bird is expected to survive and recover.
Catan may have saved a life during his latest soccer matchup. That should help lessen the sting of Istanbul Yurdum Spor’s championship loss.