A football star who fled Ukraine a year ago when the war started has told how he had another narrow escape when he abandoned plans to stay in a hotel just hours before it was flattened in Turkey’s devastating earthquake.

Abdullah Dogan, 25, had been due to stay at a hotel in Diyarbekir – one of the cities worst hit by the quake – after a home match.

The squad had been due to fly to Istanbul to rest before up upcoming away match.

But when their flight was cancelled, the team planned to stay put in the hotel through the weekend.

But when another flight was laid on they all packed and left for Istanbul.

The following morning a massive earthquake ripped through southern Turkey, destroying the hotel where the team had been due to stay.

The German attacking midfielder, who has Turkish roots, explained to German media: “It’s not normal anymore, it’s just gross.

“After our home game on Saturday, we wanted to fly back to Istanbul, where our team stays when we are not playing matches.

“Because of snow and fog, we couldn’t fly and stayed at a hotel in Diyarbekir.

“We wanted to stay there in order to fly directly to the next away game over the next few days. But then there was another plane on Sunday evening.”

He added: “In Istanbul, my cell phone almost exploded. The hotel we wanted to stay in is no longer there. I feel so sorry for the people.”

Dogan had only been playing for Turkish league side Diyarbekir Spor for a few weeks.

His lucky escape came almost exactly a year after he avoided getting trapped in Ukraine after Russia invaded.

Dogan had flown to Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine to sign contracts but managed to escape before Russian troops reached the region.

He said: “I’m grateful that I’m healthy and alive. It shows once again that football is not the most important thing in life.”