Manisa Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek died Monday at the age of 48, three days after suffering a severe electrical shock while inspecting a malfunction in the pool equipment area at his private residence, Turkish authorities announced.
Zeyrek was hospitalized on the night of June 6 after receiving an electric shock in what Turkish media described as the “motor room” or “boiler room” of his home swimming pool. He had reportedly entered the underground equipment area to investigate a fault in the pool’s motor system when he was electrocuted. Emergency responders resuscitated him after 70 minutes of CPR, and he was put in intensive care at Manisa Celal Bayar University’s Hafsa Sultan Hospital.
On Monday evening Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed Zeyrek’s death on social media, stating, “Despite all efforts at the hospital, Manisa Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek has passed away. We extend our condolences to his family, loved ones and the people of Manisa.”
A preliminary investigation by the Manisa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into possible negligence is ongoing. Authorities have questioned nearly 20 people, including emergency personnel, technical staff and others first to arrive at the scene. A team of court-appointed technical experts — comprising electrical and mechanical engineers — has conducted a site inspection. Their findings are expected to be submitted in an official report in the coming week.
Initial assessments point to faults in the wiring and safety mechanisms in the pool’s electrical system, including a possible failure of the residual current device (RCD), which is designed to prevent such accidents by cutting power during current leakage.
Zeyrek’s daughter, Nehir Zeyrek, had previously stated on social media that her father had expressed concerns about the pool’s setup the day before the accident and accused those responsible of negligence. “Don’t let my father’s blood be in vain,” she wrote following news of his death.
Born in 1977 in Manisa, Zeyrek was an architect by profession and a longtime figure in local civic and political life. He previously served as head of the Manisa Chamber of Architects and held various municipal roles before being elected mayor in March 2024 from the Republican People’s Party (CHP). He was married with three daughters.