Olympic skier, 25, dies in blazing inferno alongside his father at Turkish ski resort — mother’s fate unclear as horror unfolds in early morning fire.
Berkin Usta, the 25-year-old Turkish skiing prodigy who competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, was tragically killed in a roaring hotel blaze in the early hours of Thursday. March 27. The fire erupted inside the Kervansaray Hotel, tucked into the slopes of Uludağ, in Turkey’s Bursa province—a popular resort area now scarred by grief.
The young athlete’s father, Yahya Usta, also perished in the flames. Yahya was not just Berkin’s dad—he was the president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association, a man deeply rooted in the sport that defined his family.
What began as a quiet, snowy morning at a shuttered Turkish ski resort turned into a scene of devastation.
Flames at Dawn: Fire Strikes Closed Hotel with Family Inside
According to local reports, the inferno broke out around 5:30 a.m., sweeping through the building’s lower levels while the Usta family were sleeping on the fifth floor.
The hotel was closed to guests, but 12 staff members were inside at the time. Several were rushed to the hospital for smoke inhalation, as fire crews battled to control the blaze. Turkey’s Sports Minister, Osman Askin Bak, confirmed the shocking loss, saying:
“I learned with deep sorrow that our national athlete Berkin Usta and his father Yahya Usta lost their lives in the fire that broke out in the hotel.”
Mystery Deepens as Reports Conflict over Berkin’s Mother
The Usta family had been staying at the hotel, though it remains unclear why—and whether they were connected to hotel operations in any official capacity. But what’s sending shockwaves through the nation is the uncertain fate of Yahya’s wife.
Some reports claim she survived, while others suggest she too may have perished in the blaze. The conflicting information has only added to the anguish and confusion surrounding the tragedy.
Investigation Launched, Hotel Manager Detained
Bursa’s mayor, Mustafa Bozbey, revealed that investigators believe the fire originated in the hotel’s cafeteria. Prosecutors have launched an investigation, and the hotel’s manager has already been detained, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
As the country reels from the sudden loss of a national hero, many are demanding answers—and justice.
Grief, Shock, and Unanswered Questions
Berkin Usta, once seen flying down Olympic slopes with fierce determination, is now being mourned as a symbol of potential stolen too soon. Tributes are pouring in for the young man who represented Turkey on the world stage, only to lose his life in a tragedy as senseless as it was savage.
How do YOU think a fire like this could break out in a closed hotel? Should more have been done to prevent this horror? Let us know your thoughts below.
