Isaac Teye Twasam, the elder brother of professional footballer Christian Atsu, spoke about the family's reaction to the news that Atsu had gone missing following a massive earthquake in Turkey.

Isaac stated that he was taking feeding fees from school pupils when he was informed of the incident and immediately headed home to turn off his phone and lie flat on the floor.

The family was frightened by the news, but took solace in how God saved Jonah from the belly of the big fish.

Isaac explained that they continued to pray for Atsu's safe return, receiving motivation through numerous phone calls.

Despite hearing media reports of Atsu's survival on Monday evening, the family wanted to confirm the news from his club and management first.

However, when Isaac called to confirm, Atsu's agent refuted the claims, intensifying the anxiety and almost breaking Isaac down.

“I was taking feeding fees from school pupils when I was informed about the incident. Upon hearing I stopped, headed home and immediately turned off my phone lied flat on the floor,” he told Dan Kwaku Yeboah Tv on YouTube.

“We were all frightened by the news but we took solace in how God saved Jonah from the belly of the big fish. Hence we knew no matter what, Atsu would be back safe.

“So we continued in prayers just like Ghanaians did. We received motivation through numerous phone calls.

“We heard media reports of his survival on Monday evening but we wanted to confirm from his club and management first.

“Atsu’s agent refuted the claims of him being found in the evening when I called to confirm following numerous reports. The anxiety intensified after that call. It almost broke me down,” he added.