The wife and children of former Jacksonville Armada FC soccer defender Lucas Trejo were reported among more than 1,000 confirmed dead from two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
Trejo’s wife, Yanina, and his children, Aaron and Ainhoa, were found dead after a search of more than three days, as reported by Clarin, the largest newspaper in his native Argentina.
Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira, Trejo’s club in the Venezuelan Second Division, confirmed the news and offered its support on its Twitter/X accounts.
“Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira deeply laments the irreparable loss of the wife and children of our player, Lucas Trejo. In this moment of immense pain, we lift up our prayers for the eternal rest of their souls and for the strength of Lucas and his loved ones to face this tragedy,” the club said in its statement on Twitter/X, via translation. “Lucas, you are not alone. Your Maritimo La Guaira family is with you. We accompany you with our heart, with respect, union and solidarity.”
Clarin reported that Trejo, who was outside the city with his soccer club at the time of the disaster, had issued requests for help over social media after being unable to locate his family in the aftermath of Wednesday’s earthquakes.
“Our building collapsed, I hope they were not there,” Trejo had posted, as reported by Clarin.
Trejo, 38, competed for the Armada during the club’s inaugural 2015 season in the North American Soccer League, which returned professional soccer to Jacksonville after a 15-year absence.
He appeared in 25 league games, primarily as a left fullback, and supplied the winning assist in the Armada’s first exhibition match to be played at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, now VyStar Ballpark.
Trejo has also competed with teams located in Argentina, Colombia, Greece, Mexico and Peru.
International rescue crews continue the search for survivors following Wednesday’s earthquakes, which struck one minute apart with magnitudes measured at 7.2 and 7.5. As of Sunday, Venezuelan authorities reported more than 1,400 deaths, and thousands more remain missing.
Organizations and residents across Florida have mobilized to raise funds for earthquake victims. The tragedy has also been felt as soccer’s World Cup continues across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Governing body FIFA ordered a moment of silence before the start of final group-stage matches, and Colombian midfielder Richard Rios began his media availability with a message of support for Venezuela after Colombia’s June 27 game against Portugal in Miami.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Former Jacksonville Armada player’s family dead in Venezuela earthquake
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
