As horrifying images, videos, and a rising death toll come out of Venezuela after a 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit on June 24, the stories are unimaginable. One who has continued to make headlines is soccer player Lucas Trejo, who tragically lost his wife, Yanina Maranella, and their young children, Aarón and Ainhoa, in their apartment in Playa Grande.
After days of desperately searching through the rubble left behind by the devastating earthquakes, his family was recovered from the collapsed remains. According to his sister, Karen Trejo, Lucas was on the grounds looking through the rubble himself, hoping for a miracle.
Lucas was in Caracas training with his club, Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira, when news broke that their apartment had collapsed. He immediately left camp and rushed to join search efforts.
The veteran defender turned to social media with a desperate 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 sees them. I want to believe they weren’t there.”
For 74 brutal hours, friends, rescue workers, volunteers, firefighters, and residents searched through concrete and debris. Through tears, Karen told Argentine media “El Doce,” that Lucas is deeply struggling emotionally and has been sedated after learning the news.
“We’ve only spoken to Lucas once in the past few days,” she said. “He didn’t even have his phone because he was removing rubble piece by piece, and we had no way of reaching him.”
The tragedy has become one of the most heartbreaking personal stories to emerge from the disaster, which has left more than 1900 people dead and thousands more injured as rescue efforts continue.
Karen explained that much of the family’s information came through a group chat involving Lucas’ teammates and close friends, who were helping coordinate rescue logistics and fundraising efforts to get relatives to Venezuela. “That same group told us they had found the three bodies,” she said.
Karen also emphasized how urgent it is for family members to reach Lucas, saying he cannot navigate this tragedy alone. She explained that his brother and cousin would head to Venezuela to be by his side. “They’re sedating Lucas because he’s in very bad shape,” she shared. “We need them to travel as soon as possible because the bodies are scheduled to be cremated tomorrow, and we need them to be with him,” she continued.
Following confirmation of the deaths, Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira released a public statement mourning the unimaginable loss.
The club offered condolences to Lucas and his loved ones, honoring Yanina, Aarón, and Ainhoa while pledging support for the grieving player.
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