RIVERSIDE, Calif. () — A Southern California family is reeling from the loss of a loved one who was caught in the middle of the deadly earthquakes in Venezuela.
“It’s tough, it’s been really tough. I lost my father,” said Daniel Delima as his voice cracked.
His father, Romildo, is among the more than 1,700 people killed in the devastating earthquakes that rocked Venezuela last week.
Delima says his father and stepmother were on vacation and visiting family in Romildo’s native country, Brazil. Then, they traveled to Venezuela.
The hotel they were staying in collapsed. Both were taken to the hospital, but Romildo died from his injuries. Daniel’s stepmother is recovering from a broken leg and hip.
“My priority right now is to get his body from Venezuela to Brazil. That’s where he wanted to be buried,” Delima said. “Trying to coordinate that with my Brazilian side of the family that’s over there. And at this moment he’s en route to Brazil where he wants to be laid to rest.”
Delima said that his father was active in his life — a loving man, who cared for his family.
“He loved my kids and he loved me. We had plans. He was going to come back and we were going to go fishing together with my son. All I have is memories and he dedicated his life for his kids and his family. He was just my role model. Everything… I learned it from him.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs for his father and to also help with medical costs for his stepmother.
He plans on flying down to Brazil help with his fathers celebration of life and to say goodbye.
“He’s going to be greatly missed.”
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