The former Venezuelan Major League catcher, Eliézer Alfonzo, is experiencing one of the most difficult situations of his life as he searches for his wife and daughter in the rubble of the Eduard’s Suite hotel, in the state of La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the devastating earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24.
Nine days after the earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, which occurred just 38 seconds apart, Alfonzo continues to lead the rescue efforts with machinery that he obtained on his own and with the support of American rescuers, whose participation he coordinated through the United States embassy.
His wife, Patricia Alejandra, and his daughter Eliana Patricia, 16 years old and a Venezuelan-American national, were in room 407 of the hotel when the structure collapsed.
The discovery of the pet renews hope
One of the most emotional moments of the day came when the rescue teams found Mila, the family’s barely three-month-old dog, alive. Their barking alerted the lifeguards and the so-called local “moles”, fueling hope that the two women could also survive.
“If my daughter’s dog appeared, I think that the two of them are there because I know they are quite warriors,” said the former baseball player.
The Eduard’s Suite hotel was one of nearly 200 buildings that completely collapsed after the earthquakes, according to official figures.
Signs of life continue
Before the arrival of the American specialists, a group of twenty miners from Tumeremo worked for several days removing debris in the complex structures formed by the collapse.
In addition to Mila’s rescue, tests carried out with specialized dogs continue to offer encouraging signs.
“Until I have them in my hands I continue to trust that they are alive,” said Alfonzo, who played six seasons in the Major Leagues after debuting in 2006 with the San Francisco Giants.
The former recipient also recalled that the last image of his daughter was a photograph sent by his wife just an hour before the earthquake, where the teenager was still asleep.
In the midst of the emergency, Alfonzo managed to rescue the son of one of the baseball players staying at the hotel, as well as several employees, taking them in his own vehicle to a hospital.
Despite the passing of the days, the former big league player keeps his determination intact: “I will be there until the end until I have them in my hands.”
