ISTANBUL/ANADOLU

— Oğuz Ayanoglu tells Anadolu how he was shot in the pelvis, falling to the ground, while his brother was fatally shot in the neck

— Turkey witnessed a failed coup attempt in mid-July 2016 by members of the terrorist Gulen organization

Oğuz Ayanoglu, who was injured while resisting the failed coup attempt by the terrorist Gulen organization on July 15, 2016, recounted the details of his brother's martyrdom on the Bosphorus Bridge (now called July 15 Martyrs Bridge) in Istanbul.

In an interview with Anadolu, Ayanoglu said he went out into the street after hearing news of the coup and headed to the Bosphorus Bridge after learning that the putschists were firing on civilians there.

He explained that he called his brother, who had arrived earlier, and his brother told him he was helping the injured and quickly hung up.

Ayanoglu added that he met his brother near the bridge, and his brother's clothes were covered in blood, but he explained that the blood was from the injured he had been transporting. Moments later, gunfire erupted, and they took cover behind a car.

He noted that a citizen called on the crowd to advance toward the putschist soldiers. The man stepped forward with his hands raised but was shot down by the putschists in front of his daughter. When he and his brother tried to rescue him, they came under direct fire.

Ayanoglu stated that a bullet hit him in the pelvis, throwing him to the ground, while his brother was shot in the neck.

He added: 'I was taken to the hospital, and minutes later they brought my brother Onur in front of me. He was immobile after being hit in the main artery, and I screamed for them to save him.'

Ayanoglu explained that he underwent emergency surgery, and his family and doctors hid the news of his brother's martyrdom from him for five days due to his critical condition, before he discovered the truth himself.

Concluding his remarks, he said: 'When the homeland is in danger, there is no limit to sacrifice. We have proven that we will not hand over this homeland to anyone, and we will not allow anyone to restrict our will.'

Turkey witnessed a failed coup attempt in mid-July 2016 by limited elements of the army loyal to the terrorist Gulen organization, who tried to seize control of state institutions and its security and media establishments.

The Turkish government declared July 15 of each year as 'Democracy and National Unity Day' in the country, in memory of the 253 martyrs who perished during the coup attempt.