Turkish officer Mehmet Cıplak describes discovering drowned toddler Aylan Kurdi
The police officer who carried the lifeless body of refugee toddler
Images of Gendarmerie Command Sergeant Major Mehmet Çıplak picking up and carrying the drowned boy sparked worldwide outrage and has pressured leaders to find effective long-term solutions to the devastating refugee crisis engulfing Europe.
On Monday, Command Sergeant Major Çıplak spoke to reporters from the Dogan News Agency on the beach near the resort of Bodrum where he found
"I told myself 'God I hope he's alive', when I approached toddler Aylan. I craved, searched for a sign of life. However, I couldn't find any signs. I felt sick at heart. People kept asking me how I've managed to carry this heavy burden," Çıplak said.
"I put myself in
The Dogan News Agency says Command Sergeant Major Çıplak has served as a Crime Scene Investigation officer with the gendarmerie for 18 years.
Command Sergeant Major Çıplak said he wasn't aware a photographer was present at the time.
"Believe me, I didn't even think that image showing me carrying baby
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The photographs of
Three other children and seven adults also drowned in the failed crossing between Turkey and Greece.
brisbanetimes.com.au