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.
Berkin Usta during the 2022 Beijing Winter Games on 13 February in China. | Source: Getty Images
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, which authorities believe ignited in the hotel’s cafeteria, rapidly consumed the building, trapping the Usta family on the fifth floor.
While Berkin and Yahya succumbed to the deadly smoke and flames, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the fate of Yahya’s wife, with some sources indicating she survived, while others remain uncertain.
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 Kervansaray Hotel, a once-popular ski resort, had its accommodation permit revoked in January 2025, rendering it officially closed to guests. Despite this, 12 staff members were present during the calamity, several of whom were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.
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.
Berkin Usta during the CAS Karakoram International Alpine Ski Cup on January 29, 2019, in Pakistan. | Source: Getty Images
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
The presence of the Usta family in the shuttered establishment raises disturbing questions about the hotel’s operations and safety protocols. 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.
A Legacy of Passion and Dedication
Born on May 29, 2000, in Bursa, Berkin Usta was introduced to skiing at the tender age of two by his father, Yahya, a former national alpine skier and president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association.
Berkin’s unwavering dedication saw him compete in the giant slalom event at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Erzurum, where he achieved a commendable 21st place.
His relentless pursuit of excellence culminated in his participation in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, where he finished 43rd in the giant slalom. Beyond his athletic endeavors, Berkin was the founder of SkiCraft, a ski school committed to providing structured, high-quality training, reflecting his passion for nurturing future talents in the sport.
A Community United in Mourning
The tragic demise of Berkin and Yahya Usta has left an indelible void in the hearts of many. As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the Kervansaray Hotel fire, the sporting world and the nation at large grapple with the profound loss of a young athlete whose star was on the rise.
This deadly incident has drawn parallels to another recent tragedy in Turkey.
In January, a fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort area in Bolu province, killing 79 people and injuring 51.
The 12-story structure caught fire near the start of Turkey’s two-week school holiday, a time when resorts are often at full capacity. The blaze started in the restaurant section on the fourth floor and quickly spread through the wooden-clad hotel.
Witnesses described horrifying scenes. Esra Karakaşa and Halime Cetin, watching from nearby, said they saw desperate guests hanging out of windows, screaming for help, while others jumped to escape the smoke and flames.
Halime recalled hearing cries for firefighters and the heart-wrenching screams of children. “We wanted to help, but there was nothing we could do,” they said.
Efforts to rescue those trapped inside were complicated by the hotel’s location — part of the building stood on the edge of a cliff. Baris Salgur, a hotel cleaner, was among those who rushed to help.
He described the harrowing sight of a man holding a baby and shouting for a mattress. Although firefighters eventually arrived, the infant tragically died from smoke inhalation.
Turkey’s Tourism Minister, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, revealed the Grand Kartal had undergone inspections in both 2021 and 2024, with no reported fire safety issues at the time. Nevertheless, the Bolu chief prosecutor’s office launched an investigation, and several arrests followed.
By late January, 28 individuals were in custody, including the hotel’s owner, the local deputy mayor, and Bolu’s acting fire chief. The scale of the disaster prompted a national day of mourning, with flags lowered at government buildings and Turkish embassies worldwide.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan traveled to Bolu to attend the funeral of eight members of the Gültekin family, who were related to a member of his ruling party. Addressing mourners, he said, “Our hearts are broken. May God grant us patience.”
Berkin’s tragic passing adds to a string of recent losses in the athletic world. In September 2024, Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, tragically passed away after she was admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. The Ugandan marathon runner’s admittance followed a vicious attack by her former boyfriend.
Rebecca Cheptegei competing with other runners during the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on August 26, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Dr. Owen Menach — the acting CEO of MTRH and Director of Clinical Services and Surgery — confirmed that Cheptegei died at 5 a.m. in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from what he dubbed full organ failure.
He also emphasized how saddened he and other medical professionals are by the tragic news, adding, “[We] were doing our best to save her life.”
Cheptegei’s family member, Dr. Tony Sabila, confirmed the date of her passing as September 5, while speaking to Nation Sport.
“It is true that we lost our sister this morning although the doctors tried to save her life and I was there personally,” divulged Dr. Sabila.
Cheptegei had been in the ICU as a result of suffering severe burns from open flames that overtook her whole body. Nation Sport revealed that her burns covered 80% of her body.
Due to the extent of the burns, Cheptegei was fully sedated and intubated. She was also on full life support for blood, fluids, and medication, and had to use a ventilator for breathing.
Before she lost her life, the Kenyan government announced their plan to transport Cheptegei to Nairobi, via an airlift, for specialized treatment. They announced this on September 4.
Principal Secretary for Sports, Peter Tum, divulged that the transportation plan had been confirmed after discussions were held with Peter Ogwang, who is the Sports Minister of Uganda. However, Cheptegei died before they could see the plan through.
Athletics Kenya President and Vice-President of World Athletics, Jack Tuwei, weighed in on the tragedy and condemned what happened. His statement also revealed that Cheptegei had been harmed by her former boyfriend over a property dispute.
BBC reported that the ex set her alight after dousing her with petrol. According to north-west Kenyan authorities, this happened on Sunday, September 1, while Cheptegei, who competed in the Paris Olympics, was on her way home from church.
Rebecca Cheptegei competing with other athletes in the Women’s Marathon during the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on August 26, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
“As a federation, we want to condemn this in the strongest possible terms because this is not the way we should live,” noted Tuwei at the end of his message.
Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei giving a press brief following the death of world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum in Nairobi, Kenya on February 12, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Ugandan lawyer and professor Donald Rukare took to X to pen his own statement addressing the athlete’s death.
He expressed, “We have learnt of the sad passing on of our Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei OLY following a vicious attack by her boyfriend. May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women.”
The rest of his message went on to discuss how senseless and cowardly the attack was. He concluded by saying that although Cheptegei’s life has been lost, her legacy will live on.
Rukare had previously shared a tweet about Cheptegei’s ex-boyfriend’s attack on September 3. At the time, he encouraged the public to pray and hope that she would make a full recovery while she was in the hospital.
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.
