Man dies after heart attack during main opposition CHP’s march to Istanbul

Meltem Özgenç – ANKARA

A man died early on June 19 after suffering a heart attack while taking part in the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) “justice march” from the capital Ankara to Istanbul.

Hasan Tatlı, 69, suffered a heart attack during a break after a 70-minute walk on June 18 on the fourth day of the march. Following his initial treatment at the Kahramankazan Hamdi Eriş Hospital, the 69-year-old was transferred to another hospital in Ankara city center, but could not be rescued despite resuscitative efforts.

CHP Ankara deputy Murat Emir said on June 18 that Tatlı was resuscitated about eight times after his heart completely stopped.

CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu offered his condolences to Tatlı, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. During a press conference on the fifth day of the march, on June 19, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed his sorrow to hear about Tatlı’s death. 

“We are very sorry. He [Tatlı] is our first loss in the march for justice. We hope we won’t come across any similar incidents after this,” he said.

He also indicated that a group of CHP executives accompanying him would take a break from the march on June 20 to attend Tatlı’s funeral. 

Kılıçdaroğlu started his march from Ankara to Istanbul on June 15 in protest at the arrest of CHP deputy Enis Berberoğlu, who was sentenced 25 years in prison for “leaking state secrets” in the case into weapons-loaded Syria-bound trucks of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT).

The CHP head is set to walk over 24 days from the capital to Istanbul, a distance of around 450 km, to arrive at the city’s Maltepe Prison where Berberoğlu is currently in jail. He walks during the days and stops at locations along the way.

Along with thousands of supporters, Kılıçdaroğlu is being escorted by family members, CHP lawmakers and CHP members during his march.