DistantNews
Support us
Venezuelan footballer's wife dies protecting daughter in earthquake; he shares heartbreaking tribute
🇲🇽 Mexico /Disasters & Emergencies

Venezuelan footballer's wife dies protecting daughter in earthquake; he shares heartbreaking tribute

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A Venezuelan footballer's wife died protecting their daughter during earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela.
  • The footballer, Héctor Bello, shared a heartbreaking message on social media mourning his wife's sacrifice and his own grief.
  • Rescuers found the wife deceased but their daughter alive, while the earthquakes have caused widespread devastation and a rising death toll.

In the wake of devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, a poignant story of sacrifice has emerged from La Guaira. Héctor Bello, a footballer for Marítimo La Guaira, is mourning the loss of his wife, Andrea, who died while shielding their young daughter, Alana, from falling debris during the tremors.

Andrea, how do I explain to our daughter that you gave your life to save hers and that I wasn't there to help you at that moment? I am bleeding, but I am not hurt. I am awake, but I feel nothing.

— Héctor BelloA heartbreaking message shared on social media by the footballer mourning his wife's sacrifice.

Bello shared a deeply emotional message on social media, expressing his anguish and disbelief. "Andrea, how do I explain to our daughter that you gave your life to save hers and that I wasn't there to help you at that moment? I am bleeding, but I am not hurt. I am awake, but I feel nothing," he wrote. His wife was in their high-rise apartment in La Guaira when the building collapsed. Rescuers discovered her body beneath hers, with their daughter, Alana, alive and protected in her arms.

The child, though sustaining minor injuries including a bruised eye and a bandaged arm, was reported to be in good condition and was taken to the hospital. She was later seen sleeping in her aunt's arms. Bello confirmed that both he and his daughter would remain hospitalized for observation. The footballer received an outpouring of support from fans and the wider community.

You left us alone in the fight, Mom. I am completely alone with our daughter. Give me strength now because I can't take it anymore.

— Héctor BelloExpressing his profound grief and sense of isolation following his wife's death.

In a separate post, Bello conveyed his profound sense of loss and isolation: "You left us alone in the fight, Mom. I am completely alone with our daughter. Give me strength now because I can't take it anymore." The earthquakes have left thousands dead and injured, with rescue efforts ongoing but increasingly challenged by the passage of time. Survivors recount harrowing experiences, clinging to door frames or calling out to loved ones trapped beneath the rubble, while the nation grapples with the scale of the disaster.

When the earthquake started, I clung to the door frame with all my might, so hard that I broke a finger.

— Woman rescued after earthquakeRecounting her experience of surviving the earthquake by holding onto a door frame.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog