'Compassionate' chip shop owner dies in Turkey earthquake while visiting family
The owner of a fish and chip shop in Essex was among the thousands of casualties killed in the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, friends have confirmed.
Dad-of-two Nuri Dilek was killed in the disaster earlier this month, with loved ones describing him as "compassionate and giving".
The 41-year-old, also known as George, ran George's Fish Bar in Dagenham, and was reportedly visiting family in his native Turkey when the earthquake struck, Essex Live reports.
More than 47,000 people have already been confirmed dead in the 7.8 magnitude quake which struck at Turkey's Gazientep province near the Syrian border on February 6, making it the country's worst disaster in a century.
Nuri has been described by people who knew him as 'compassionate and giving' (Facebook)Aftershocks measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale followed, with the death toll still rising.
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Nuri had run the popular takeaway for over a decade, with customers and friends leaving flowers outside in recent weeks since news broke of his death.
Reece Haynes, 22, who knew Nuri for 10 years, described him as more of a friend to customers than just a chip shop owner.
"I think the community is already truly devastated and it has affected so many people because he was such a smiley face in our community," he said.
Nuri was known for running George's Fish Bar in Dagenham, Essex, where people have been leaving flowers in tribute (Reece Haynes)“I saw a comment online from a man who said ‘I was so upset that I did not get to say a final goodbye’ and, when we were laying flowers down [at the fish and chip shop], another lady came and said ‘he was such a lovely person’.
"It is going to upset so many people that he is gone.”
Reece says Nuri was known in the community for his compassion and generosity, and in some instances would pay for people's food from his own pocket if they were running low on cash just so that they wouldn't go hungry.
"To be honest, he could be having the worst day of his life but he would always make someone else’s better by smiling or saying hello," Reece added.
"I feel he would have left that with a lot of people to keep smiling and not necessarily give up."
Friends said Nuri would regularly help out those struggling for money by paying for their food (Google Maps)Reece, a former mechanic, said he last saw Nuri three weeks ago when he was going to get dinner with his mum and described it as a "heartwarming experience".
He said: "He was his happy self and it was such a heartwarming experience, when you go in the shop because they are so welcoming and loving.
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"It wasn’t only George it was all of the staff in that shop and it is hard to see a loving member of the community disappear."
Reece said he was devastated when he heard about Nuri’s passing on February 12, and the friend has since launched a GoFundMe page to help the family cover any funeral costs as well as commemorate his memory.
"He has known us for so long for such a long time and he has done many things for many people," Reece added.
"I thought it was a way of showing how much he meant to us by giving back to the people he has left behind."
"I think, in a way, it helped show the community spirit.
"Most people nowadays would say Dagenham is a rubbish area but when someone, a familiar face, does pass away and a tragedy like this happens it shows that there are still good people in our area and that he meant something to everyone."
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