14-year-old boy drowns at sea during family picnic in Şile

Halil İbrahim Elkovan, 14, was picnicking with his family on Şile beach when he entered the water in a restricted area and disappeared among the waves. He was rushed to hospital but could not be saved despite all efforts.

Scraper SystemJuly 27, 2026, 09:21 PM

14-year-old boy drowns at sea during family picnic in Şile

The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, at Şile Beach. According to claims, Halil İbrahim Elkovan, who had gone to Şile with his family for a picnic, entered the sea without telling anyone in an area where swimming was prohibited, together with three other children. After swimming together for a while, Elkovan disappeared among the waves.

UNFORTUNATE BOY DROWNS Upon the report of people who noticed Elkovan and the other children, lifeguards were dispatched to the area. Halil İbrahim Elkovan was pulled from the water by the teams, and first aid was administered to him and his friends by medical teams at the scene. DIED TWO HOURS LATER Elkovan was taken to hospital by ambulance but died approximately two hours later despite all interventions.

Elkovan's body was taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute morgue. The three other children who nearly drowned in the area are reportedly in good health. BODY COLLECTED FROM FORENSIC MEDICINE INSTITUTE After completion of procedures, Halil İbrahim Elkovan's body was handed over to his family. The funeral will be held tomorrow in his hometown of Sinop following the noon prayer and burial.

'WE OVERLOOKED HIM BECAUSE THE WAVES WERE SO BIG' Uncle Seyhat Elkovan said, 'We went to the Şile picnic area for a day out, and because it was close to the beach, the children were actually under our supervision. But because the waves were so big, unfortunately we overlooked him. First of all, we are sorry. In this summer season, with the sea season open, everyone wants to go, to cool off their children. Swimming was prohibited, but the precautions were very few.'

'Apart from the municipal beach, there is a secluded spot in Şile where a shanty has gone up, someone has taken over that spot and placed a buoy there, charging per person. That is a big mistake of Şile Municipality. We have been burned, let no one else be burned. We are absolutely against it. We pay money, but there are no ropes, no safety measures, and very few lifeguards.'

'Perhaps if there had been a tower there, like at the municipal beach, they could have tracked the children with binoculars. Yes, it was forbidden, they might have entered, they are children, none of us could stop them, but when they did enter, they could have been seen from a tower with binoculars and intervention could have been possible. We say it was divine will,' he said. 'WHEN WE WENT AFTER THEM, THE SEA HAD ALREADY TAKEN ONE' Elkovan continued, 'It was announced that swimming is prohibited, but there were no safety ropes, tapes, or towers.'

'There were other people entering too. Our children became eager; but if warnings had been continuously made over a megaphone, believe me, our children would not have entered. The children went into the sea without our knowledge. When we noticed the children were missing and went after them, unfortunately the sea had already taken one. We rescued the other three children ourselves. We had gone for a family picnic. The other children are in good condition now, nothing is wrong,' he said.

'HE REALLY WANTED TO GO TO THE SEA' Family relative Ferhat Elkovan said, 'Our sorrow is enormous. We lost our child, our son. They went happily for a picnic with their family. There the cruel sea took him from us. Our pain is immense. May God grant patience to his family and to us. He really wanted to go to the sea. It seems God loved him more than we did and took him from us.'

FINAL VIDEO BEFORE HIS DEATH EMERGES Meanwhile, a video showing Halil İbrahim Elkovan and one of the children with him in the sea has emerged. The mobile phone footage shows the children joking with each other in the water. The video shared on social media is reportedly captioned 'Kids having fun.'

14-year-old boy drowns at sea during family picnic in Şile