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The Venezuelan Volleyball Federation (FVV) confirmed on Sunday night the deaths of Willner Rivas, captain of the national team, along with his wife, Mariangel Pérez, and their son, Theo Rivas. The family had been missing since the earthquakes struck the La Guaira region on June 24.
The 31-year-old player, his wife, and their son were victims of the building collapse where they resided. In the days following the tragedy, athletes and family members took to social media in a desperate attempt to secure equipment to aid in the search and rescue efforts to retrieve the family from the rubble.
Sporting's opposite hitter, Edson Valencia, had previously made several appeals on his social media channels at the time of the tragedy and now used them to mourn the death of his national team colleague.
Willner Rivas was one of the leading figures in Venezuelan volleyball and had recently signed a contract with Spanish club Guaguas for the 2026/2027 season. Throughout his career, the athlete played for teams in France, Italy, Turkey, Argentina, and various countries in the Middle East.
In a statement of profound sorrow, the FVV lamented the loss: «His legacy as an athlete, his dedication, and the pride we felt watching him represent our national team leave an indelible mark on the hearts of this sport's fans. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, teammates, and loved ones. May they rest in peace.»
The catastrophe in Venezuela has already resulted in over three thousand deaths, a number that, according to local press, is expected to rise significantly, as the number of missing persons stands at 40,000.
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