Love Island 2022 winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu has admitted she was left traumatised after visiting her family's devastated homeland of Turkey last month.
The reality star – who shot to fame after bagging victory on the show with boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti last year – visited the devastated country in April, just weeks after an earthquake which saw more than 50,000 people lose their lives.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls about her experience, the 28-year-old revealed that one little girl had clung to her, dubbing her 'mum' and asking if she would take her back to the UK with her.
Asked by Susanna: "Do you know what the story was behind the little girl who asked you to take her home with Davide?", the former islander admitted she has been considering adopting the tot ever since returning home.
"So, she doesn't remember much of the actual event," Ekin-Su said of the young girl. "It was 4am, and all of a sudden, it was black. Everything was shaking. The walls were coming down and she was just screaming 'Mum, mum, mum'.
"And she doesn't remember anything else, and I think she has a little brother as well and that's all it is."
Ekin-Su continued: "And she just wants mum – mum, mum, mum. Anyone who comes in and gives her love, she just attaches herself and cannot let go."
"How old was she?" Susanna asked.
"I think she was about four, very very young," Ekin-Su replied. "I think her father is alive, I think her mum is not alive."
The star then admitted she "would love to take her", saying the experience of visiting Turkey in the wake of the natural disaster was "traumatising".
"But once you bring one home you want to help them all," she explained. "I really just want to raise awareness. We don't know how lucky we are to be in the UK.
The ITV2 favourite previously said: "She wanted me to stay and be her mum because she had lost hers. I couldn’t hold my tears in. It felt very overwhelming. Some of the other children had also lost family members.
"I wish I could have taken them back to England. They feel alone and need love and support."
Ekin-Su visited Turkey three months after the disaster, to visit relatives and do whatever she can to help, joining British Red Cross workers in the southern province of Hatay to help with the ongoing relief mission.
She also pitched in with workers making thousands of meals by stirring giant pans of life-saving broth.
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