Son of July 15, 2016 defeated coup hero follows father's footsteps

By Fatih Ulas

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ahmet Karmil, son of Koksal Karmil, who was killed while carrying the wounded on the July 15 Martyrs Bridge during the 2016 coup bid, has been working as a search and rescue volunteer, devoting himself to saving lives like his father.

The 50-year-old Koksal, who served as a civilian worker in the 1st Army Command, saved many wounded during that night.

Koksal’s 24-year-old son Ahmet also chose the path of saving people's lives like his father.

Ahmet, who has been working in the Umraniye Training and Research Hospital Search and Rescue Unit for three years, is running to the aid of those in need of help in case of a disaster.

Ahmet visited the disaster area along with the search and rescue unit after the deadly Feb. 6 earthquakes centered in southern Kahramanmaras province which affected 11 provinces.

The team, including Ahmet Karmil, rescued six people from the wreckage and found the bodies of 17 people.

The hospital team also provided first aid to many of the injured.

“While I was doing search and rescue work in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, I came across a photograph of my father hanging on the wall at Yunus Emre Primary School, where I went to relax,” Ahmet told Anadolu.

“I can't describe the feeling I felt when I saw his photo there. It was a great honor for me to see him there. I'm sure he was proud to see me there too,” Ahmet recalled.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 252 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.