Andrea Bello, a mother in Venezuela, died while shielding her one-year-old daughter Alana during the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country on Thursday. Her husband, Marítimo de La Guaira footballer Héctor Bello, paid an emotional tribute to her, calling her a hero.
Mother's sacrifice saves toddler
The body of Andrea Bello was discovered protecting her daughter under the rubble. Alana survived thanks to her mother's sacrifice and was rescued by search teams. The toddler is now in hospital with her aunt, who was also saved from their collapsed home in La Guaira State.
Héctor Bello, also known as Kike, shared a photo of Alana with a black eye and cuts, writing: 'You won't see your daddy looking strong or smiling like always, but I promise I'll heal and make you the happiest girl in the world.' He added that Alana and her aunt are doing well but remain hospitalized.
Emotional tribute to wife
In a series of social media posts, Bello expressed his grief and asked for strength. 'How do I tell that to my daughter? Andrea, how do I explain to your daughter that you lost your life to save hers and I wasn't there in that moment to do anything?' he wrote. 'Give me strength now because I can't take any more.'
He also remembered her fondly: 'You'll always be our favourite hero, Mummy. I'm going to make sure our baby remembers how wonderful you were, how much you loved her. I'll tell her the story of how you saved her, how you gave your own life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who, even with your last breath, never abandoned her.'
Deadly twin earthquakes
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck near Caracas on Thursday, occurring 39 seconds apart. According to the US Geological Survey, it was the strongest earthquake since 1900 in the region. At least 589 people have died, and nearly 50,000 are missing. The USGS has predicted more than 10,000 deaths. Thousands are homeless, especially along the coast and in La Guaira State, where buildings were reduced to rubble.
Football community mourns
Venezuela's football federation confirmed the death of Yordelis Pereira, a player for Academia Puerto Cabello. Bello continued to share information about relief efforts and updates on his daughter. 'My daughter and her aunt are doing well, they won't be discharged today – they're staying at the hospital. Thank you so much for supporting me through this immense pain,' he posted.
