Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has suffered a devastating personal loss after his wife and two children died in last week's powerful earthquakes in Venezuela, the deadliest to hit the country in more than a century.
Trejo, who plays for Venezuelan second division side Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira, spent three days searching through the rubble of his family's collapsed home in La Guaira, hoping to find his wife, Yanina, and their children, Aarón and Ainhoa alive.
Speaking to CNN Español on Friday, Trejo's brother-in-law, Ricardo Ardiles, said the footballer was "emotionally overwhelmed" after finding that "absolutely nothing" remained of the family's beachfront home in one of the areas worst hit by the disaster.
Authorities said more than 1,400 people have died in the earthquakes, while thousands remain missing.
Trejo was attending a training camp with his club in Caracas when the two powerful earthquakes struck. He immediately travelled to La Guaira, about 18 miles north of the capital, to search for his family.
"What he found was a horrific scene. He found absolutely nothing of what the building itself had been. Our hope was that they weren't in there," Ardiles said.
Trejo spent hours digging through the debris and appealed for heavy machinery to assist in the rescue effort. His teammates and friends also released a video urging authorities to deploy more equipment.
"Right now we only have one machine, but it's not enough," said Robert Garcés of Metropolitanos FC.
The search ended in tragedy.
On Sunday, Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira confirmed the deaths in a social media statement, saying it "deeply mourns the irreparable loss" of Trejo's family.
The club shared a family photo of Trejo with his wife and children and offered its support.
"Lucas, you are not alone. Your family at Marítimo La Guaira is with you," the club said.