Veli Çelik, the first heart transplant patient in Northern Cyprus, has died

Veli Çelik, the first patient in Northern Cyprus to undergo a heart transplant, died on 4 September. His funeral will be held in Yenierenköy in the Karpaz after the noon prayer.

The first heart transplant in the history of the TRNC was performed on him in April 2019 at Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Lefkoşa. The operation was carried out by the cardiovascular surgery department team — doctors Hasan Birtan and Ozan Emiroğlu, together with invited specialists from Turkey. The donor was a young man diagnosed with brain death.

Seven years after the transplant, Çelik developed extensive vascular disease, and underwent a second transplant in spring 2026. It lasted around 12 hours and was successful: the second transplant was performed approximately 3–4 months before his death.

Çelik worked as a truck driver for many years, was married and raised two daughters. After his second operation, he urged residents of the TRNC to support organ donation: “I must hold this heart tightly; there will be no other chance. Giving hope, giving life — it is truly wonderful.”