The devastating Venezuela earthquake has now reached the world of football with a heartbreaking confirmation: the wife and two children of Argentine defender Lucas Trejo have been found dead.
Trejo, who plays for Venezuelan club Maritimo de la Guaira, had been desperately waiting for news after his wife, Yanina Maranella, and their children, Aaron and Ainhoa, went missing when their apartment building in Playa Grande collapsed during the twin earthquakes. Trejo was away in Caracas preparing for a league match when the disaster struck.
He immediately turned to social media with an urgent plea: "Our building in Playa Grande collapsed. I don't know anything about my family. Please pray for them and share this message in case someone saw them. I want to believe they weren't there. Please pray for my family."
After a 74-hour search, his club confirmed the tragic outcome in a brief statement: "Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira deeply mourns the loss suffered by Lucas Trejo's family; we ask for respect for his relatives and teammates."
Friend and former Venezuelan footballer Edson Tortolero posted a tribute on social media: "We inform all the people of Venezuela and Argentina that the bodies of Lucas Trejo's family members have been found lifeless. We thank everyone for the support and ask for the most sincere respect for his family at this time. WE PRAY FOR ETERNAL LIFE FOR THEM."
Earlier this year, Yanina had written a birthday message for Trejo describing him as the pillar of their family: "It's a blessing for us as a family to have you and to move forward together in our shared purpose. With you, everything is always easier and more beautiful."
The tragedy comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with the aftermath of the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to the United Nations migration agency, as many as 6.76 million people may have been affected, with nearly 1,500 deaths confirmed.
As the world grieves with Lucas Trejo, his friend's words serve as a prayer that transcends sport - that Yanina, Aaron, and Ainhoa now rest in the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
We join the global community in praying for comfort for the Trejo family and all those still searching in Venezuela.
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