Ski Star’s Tragic End: Hotel Inferno Claims Life

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Olympic skiers are mourning the loss of a young teammate. 

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Berkin Usta, representing Turkey in alpine skiing, tragically lost his father, Yahya Usta. This heartbreaking event occurred on March 27 due to a fire at a winter resort situated in Uludag, Turkey. Berkin was only 24 years old, while Yahya was 57.

On March 27th, Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak shared his heartfelt sadness in a statement, confirming that our esteemed national athlete Berkin Usta and his father Yahya Usta tragically perished in the hotel fire. I extend my deepest sympathies to their families, loved ones, and the entire sports community. May they find peace in the highest heavens.

Turkey’s Olympic team expressed their sympathies by saying, ‘May God grant peace to our skiing representative Berkin Usta and his father Yahya Usta, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their family, friends, and the entire sports fraternity.’

At approximately 5:30 a.m., a fire broke out at Kervansaray Hotel, a former well-known ski resort located about hours away from Istanbul. The local Bursa governor’s office informed the Associated Press that the hotel was vacant of guests, but 12 staff members were on site. It is important to note that this 30-year-old establishment ceased operations in January when its license for accommodations was revoked, as reported by the governor’s office to the Associated Press (no further information has been provided regarding the Usta family’s employment status at the hotel).

Yahya Berkin and his mother Fikriye resided on the fifth floor of their residence. Reports indicate that they managed to survive. The fire originated in the cafeteria and required firefighters approximately two hours to extinguish it. An investigation has been initiated, with the hotel manager currently in custody, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

At the 2022 Olympics, Berkin participated in the giant slalom competition – a ski course featuring a winding design and vertical barriers. He ended up finishing 43rd overall in this event and has since been refining his skills. He frequently posts pictures on Instagram showing him skiing, with his latest post from last month featuring him alongside his fellow skiers, which he titled, “Team spirit!” using the hashtag #team.

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2025-03-28 16:48