Argentine soccer player’s family discovered deceased in Venezuelan earthquake

Tragic Loss for Soccer Player Lucas Trejo

This weekend, a 74-hour search for the family of Argentine soccer player Lucas Trejo concluded with the unfortunate recovery of his wife and two children from the debris of a collapsed apartment building. The building fell during a double earthquake that struck the northern coast of Venezuela on Wednesday.

Trejo, aged 38, plays as a center back for the Venezuelan club Sport Maritimo de la Guaira and was in Caracas with his team at the time of the earthquakes, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale.

Upon hearing that his family’s apartment in Playa Grande, La Guaira had collapsed, Trejo rushed to the scene to participate in the search.

In a poignant Instagram post during the early hours of the search, he wrote, “Our building in Playa Grande collapsed. I don’t know anything about my family. Please pray for them and share this message in case anyone sees them. I would like to believe they were not there.”

Rescue Efforts Continue

In total, Trejo’s father and brother traveled from Argentina to assist family members, firefighters, soldiers, and volunteers as they combed through the rubble.

Ultimately, the search concluded with the heartbreaking discovery of Trejo’s wife, Yanina Maranella, and their children, Aaron and Ainoa.

This tragedy has prompted a wave of support from the South American soccer community. Edson Tortorello, an Argentine soccer player and close friend of Trejo, expressed his sorrow, stating, “My heart broke into a million pieces today. There are no words to ease the pain. We ask God to give Lucas the strength to endure this unimaginable loss.”

Club Sport Maritimo de La Guaira also released a statement confirming the loss. “We join in the sorrow of Lucas Trejo, who lost his wife Yanina Maranella and children Aaron and Ainoa Trejo,” it read. “Peace to their souls and comfort to Lucas and all his loved ones.”

The Trejo family is among the many impacted by the earthquakes that devastated parts of Venezuela’s northern coast. Recovery efforts by emergency crews are ongoing in the area.