A Turkish man living in County Durham has told how he found out his cousin had died in last week’s earthquakes after spotting his body in a collapsed building in a picture shared on social media.  

Suleyman Yildirim, shares his name and, at 39, is the same age as the school teacher who lived in his hometown of Hatay with his brother and father.

Suleyman, who lives in Stanley with his wife, two daughters and a stepdaughter, has lost around 18 members of his family since two earthquakes struck in Turkey and Syria last Monday.

Read more: Men who lost 18 family members in Turkey on mission to find remaining survivors

The Northern Echo: Suleyman Yildirim lives in Stanley with his wife Gemma Suleyman Yildirim lives in Stanley with his wife Gemma (Image: Gavin Havery)

The construction firm boss is now travelling to the disaster zone to help with rescue efforts and to support survivors.

Over 28,000 have now died and hundreds of thousands of people are homeless with the devastation from the earthquakes stretching across ten provinces.

Suleyman said he knew it was his cousin in the picture because he was at the building recently.

The Northern Echo: Suleyman Yildirim lived in Hatay and died trying to save his father Suleyman Yildirim lived in Hatay and died trying to save his father (Image: Contributor)

Suleyman said: “We were looking at some pictures people had uploaded on social media and I recognised the building.

“I was in that building a month ago because when my mam passed away I went to see my uncle, Kemal.

“I zoomed in and I could see an arm hanging and I knew it was my cousin.

“His older brother, Ozcan, survived and he was able to tell me.

“He confirmed it was my cousin. He was trying to get his dad to the balcony, which you can see in the picture.”

Read more:

The Northern Echo: Kemal Yildirim died later from his injuries Kemal Yildirim died later from his injuries (Image: Contributor)

Suleyman said the family lived on the first floor of a four or five storey apartment block.

He said: “My cousin managed to get his dad out but he got caught.

“They were helpless they could not do anything for Suleyman. He passed away.

“My other cousin managed to get my uncle out and took him to hospital but he also passed away the same day.

“Ozcan was the only to come out of it.”