Boy, 15, Dies After High-Pressure Air Hose Is Forced into His Body During Workplace Prank Gone Wrong: Reports

A 15-year-old boy in Turkey has died after being assaulted with a high-pressure air hose at his workplace—an act investigators say was allegedly framed as a prank but is now being described by critics as torture.

Local outlet reports say Muhammed Kendirci was gravely injured on Friday, Nov. 14, at a carpentry workshop in Bozova, a district of Şanlıurfa Province. He suffered severe internal injuries and was treated in intensive care for five days before dying on the morning of Nov. 19.

According to Hurriyet, Kendirci was allegedly restrained with his hands tied by another apprentice, Habip Aksoy, and a second person whose identity has not been confirmed. His pants were reportedly forcibly removed, and a high-pressure compressor was used to inject air into his rectum, causing catastrophic internal damage.

Emergency medical crews were called to the workshop and took Kendirci to Bozova Mehmet Enver Yıldırım State Hospital, Milliyet reported. He was later transferred to Balıklıgöl State Hospital and then moved to Harran University Research and Application Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until his death.

Hurriyet reported that Aksoy was re-arrested by an on-call court after initially being released under probation while the investigation continued.

After Kendirci’s death, his funeral was held at Bozova Asri Cemetery, Sozcu reported.

Suat Özçağdaş, a member of the Turkish parliament, condemned the incident in a post on X, saying the teen was “tortured while working as an apprentice in a carpentry workshop,” and argued he should have been in school instead. Özçağdaş added that prosecutors first described the case as a joke rather than torture, noting that Kendirci fought for his life for five days before succumbing to his injuries.

Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.