Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has suffered a devastating personal loss after the bodies of his wife and children were found following a 74-hour search in the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week.
Trejo, 38, had been anxiously awaiting news of his missing family since the twin earthquakes devastated parts of the country. The search ended in tragedy on Saturday night, according to family friend and fellow footballer Edson Tortolero.
Trejo's club, Marítimo de La Guaira, confirmed the news in an official statement.
"Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira deeply mourns the loss suffered by Lucas Trejo's family. We ask for respect for his relatives and teammates. After a 74-hour search, they were found deceased," the club said.
Edson Tortolero also announced the development in a social media statement, expressing gratitude to those who supported the search efforts.
"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," he wrote.
Trejo has not yet issued a public statement. Hours before the heartbreaking discovery, he had shared a photograph of himself with his wife and children on social media as hope remained that they might be found alive.
According to reports from Argentina, Trejo's father and brother had travelled to Venezuela to assist in the search for the missing family.
Earlier this year, Trejo's wife, Yana, had posted a heartfelt birthday message for the footballer, 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," she wrote in April.
Rescue efforts continue
The tragedy comes as rescue teams continue searching for survivors after the rare back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Venezuela on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction. Authorities are continuing large-scale rescue operations as thousands remain unaccounted for.
Earlier on Saturday, former Major League Baseball player Gorkys Hernández also confirmed the death of his wife, Deisy, in the disaster.
Venezuelan media reported that she was staying at a luxury hotel along with relatives of other players from Hernández's La Guaira Delfines baseball team when the earthquakes struck.
Rescue and recovery efforts remain underway as emergency teams continue to search affected areas amid one of Venezuela's deadliest natural disasters in recent years.
