Juan Felipe Giraldo found dead after Pereira earthquake; was set to marry this weekend and leaves a two-year-old son

The hope of finding Juan Felipe Giraldo alive has ended with the confirmation of his death. The 24-year-old had been trapped in the rubble of the Hotel Dibeni since a powerful earthquake struck Pereira, Colombia, earlier this week.

Giraldo had recently relocated to Pereira for work, arriving just hours before the earthquake hit. His father, Hernán Giraldo, remained near the disaster site, anxiously awaiting news while rescue efforts were underway. The confirmation of his son's passing is a devastating blow to a family that had clung to hope.

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Son, I love you and you are getting married on Sunday, and if not on Sunday, it will be in eight or 15 days, but you will be there, son.

Adding to the tragedy, Juan Felipe was set to marry this past weekend. His fiancée was in Bogotá awaiting his arrival, unaware of the extent of the disaster. His father had spoken of his son's plans, expressing a father's desperate hope that Juan Felipe would survive to celebrate his wedding, even if delayed.

Adding another layer of heartbreak, Giraldo was also the father of a two-year-old child. The future the family envisioned was tragically cut short by the hotel's collapse. Despite the immense grief, his father had spoken of small signs of life, fueling his faith that his son would be found alive, describing him as a strong and resilient individual.

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There is life, there are small signs of life. And if there is life, there is hope.