The search that mobilized family, neighbors, sports journalists and teammates for hours ended with devastating news. Yimvert Berroterán, an 18-year-old Venezuelan soccer player who had been reported missing after the earthquakes that occurred in Venezuela, was found lifeless in the rubble of the building where he lived.

The young man had been missing since Wednesday, June 24, the day when two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 were recorded that affected different areas of the country. Among the hardest hit areas was the Los Corales sector, in La Guaira, where he had last been seen.

In the midst of the emergency, images and calls related to missing people began to circulate, including several soccer players. One of those names was Berroterán.

The Venezuelan Football Federation had published a publication on social networks requesting collaboration to locate him. "His family needs any information that can help find his whereabouts. If you have seen him or know anything, please contact him immediately...", the agency said along with photographs of the player.

As the hours passed, reports began to appear from sports journalists and people close to the footballer's entourage indicating that he was still alive under the remains of the structure. The urgency to obtain machinery and rescue equipment also began to multiply on social networks.

According to the information released later, Berroterán remained trapped for more than 40 hours before they could reach the place where he was.

A career that was beginning to make its way in Venezuelan football

The death of the midfielder generated an impact within the Venezuelan sports environment. Berroterán was considered one of the emerging figures within the national team youth system and had already begun to have a presence in professional football.

He was part of the U-17 and U-20 categories of Venezuela and with the U-17 team he played 17 games, in which he scored three goals.

At the club level he belonged to the UCV FC of Caracas, where he was considered one of the institution's promises. He had also already managed to debut in the First Division.

During the current season he accumulated three official appearances and a total of 32 minutes on the court while advancing in his adaptation process at the highest level.

The disaster caused by the earthquakes already leaves more than 900 fatalities and continues to impact different areas of the country, including Venezuelan sports.