South American soccer star Héctor Bello’s wife, Andrea Bello, died amid the recent catastrophic earthquakes in Venezuela.
“You’ll always be our favorite heroine, Mommy. I’ll make sure to remind our baby girl how wonderful you were and how much you loved her,” Héctor, 28, wrote via Instagram on Friday, June 26. “I’ll tell her the story of how you saved her, my love — how you gave your own life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who never abandoned her, even as you breathed your last.”
Venezuela was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, June 24. Andrea’s body had been found in the rubble, according to soccer club Cumaná de Campeones.
“We regret to inform you that the partner of Cumanes footballer Héctor Bello ‘Kike’ was found dead in the rubble after the earthquake that shook the country yesterday afternoon/evening,” a statement in Spanish read. “His daughter survived the collapse of the building where the entire family lived. The entire state of Sucre and the entire football community embrace you and stand with you in respect and solidarity, hoping you find peace in this time of sorrow.”
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Per the organization and Héctor’s tribute, Andrea had shielded 20-month-old daughter Alana from the natural disaster.
“There’s one thing I can’t forgive you for, Mommy: you left my soul shattered,” Héctor added in his Friday upload. “You left me to fight this battle alone — a fight we always said was ours to face together. Do you remember sending me that photo? I told you, ‘That little girl is so beautiful,’ and you asked, ‘Me too, right?’ and started laughing. I told you, ‘Yes, you’re beautiful too, but not as beautiful as me, haha.’”
He continued, “We used to laugh on the phone, and the baby would always hang up the call—or get scared when we used filters, saying, ‘Daddy, no like.’ Oh, my Andrea… Mommy, you’ve shattered my soul. I’ll always remember you, Mommy — always. Remember how I used to tell you that you’d be my woman for the rest of my life? You’d laugh, looking so in love, and your cheeks would turn red. Oh, Andrea… Mommy, I can’t handle this, my love — I really can’t.”
There were many other fatalities during the earthquake, with Héctor also working to support other victims’ families.
“I am helping out however I can and with whomever I can,” he wrote in Spanish via his Instagram Stories later on Friday. “Anyone in Caracas who needs assistance, please let me know. Many people are lending me a hand, and I know my little girl isn’t the only one going through this — there are many other children as well.”