Berkin Elvan has died in hospital due to a head injury incurred at the Gezi Park protests
Istanbul - A 15-year-old, critically injured during Gezi park protests, passed away on Tuesday morning after staying 269 days in coma, officials said.
Berkin Elvan reportedly was going to buy bread when he was hit by a gas canister in the head during a police crackdown in Okmeydani, Istanbul, in June 2013.
"Elvan passed away in the Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital after staying 269 days in a coma," the family attorney Evrim Deniz Karatana told the Anadolu Agency.
Many relatives and friends of Elvan gathered outside the hospital upon learning of his death. Amidst the crowds gathered outside the hospital, security forces intervened with pepper spray against some groups that attacked police cars with stone and sticks while forming barricades with rubbish containers.
"Elvan had an epilepsy attack on March 7th, when his heart stopped for nearly 20 minutes," the attorney said on Sunday adding that "Berkin who was 45 kilos when he was shot shrunk down to 16 kilos."
Just one day before the death of Elvan on Monday, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul called Sami Elvan, the father of the teenager, to express his sorrow relating to the events and to inform him that he was following closely the health situation of Berkin.
Gezi park protests, which started in reaction to a construction project in Gezi Park in Taksim district of Istanbul, spread to several other cities leaving seven dead, including a policeman.
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.