Ex Mets Pitcher Jenrry Mejia Avoided Death in Venezuela Earthquake Due to ‘Divine Intervention’
Former New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia is apparently lucky to be alive after escaping a Venezuela hotel just moments before it collapsed during the devastating earthquakes that killed more than 500 people on Wednesday, June 24.
Mejia, 36, said he only got out of the building because the elevator he was in at the time carried him down, instead of up, after another person called the elevator at the last second.
“I was in the gym area,” he told Dominican sports radio show Mañana Deportiva. “And at that moment, I took the elevator to leave. In fact, I had pressed number 6, which was where my floor was. But … I think it was God because instead of going up, it went down to the basement.”
Mejia called it “divine intervention” that the elevator doors at the Hotel Eduards opened “directly into the lobby” just 40 seconds before the building began to crumble.
Related: At Least 60 Spectators Injured, 1 Dead, in Alleged Soccer Stadium Collapse
One person is dead and at least 60 others are injured after a soccer stadium collapsed in Peru on Friday, April 3. According to authorities, officers led a rescue mission inside Alejandro Villanueva Stadium after an influx of soccer fans caused people to be trapped in the stands. Fans of the Alianza Lima soccer team […]“That’s when I came out and the building started to collapse,” he said.
He continued, “With the agility I have, I helped an elderly gentleman. I was able to drag him away, take him with me. I think only he and I [came out alive], the others are still there, trapped under the rubble.”
The former MLB star added that he lost all of his belongings, including his passport, in the collapse, and is unable to return home to the Dominican Republic because flights out of the country have been suspended.
Mejia pitched for the Mets from 2010 to 2015, appearing in 113 games and starting 18. He was banned indefinitely from Major League Baseball in 2016 after his third positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, but was reinstated two years later. Mejia then signed with the Boston Red Sox, where he pitched in the organization’s minor league system but never reached the Majors again. He now pitches for the Venezuelan Major League.
Related: MLB’s Yadier Molina Says Plane That Burst Into Flames Intended to Pick Him Up
Former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina revealed that an airplane that crashed on Sunday, June 7, in the Dominican Republic, killing the two American pilots on board, was on its way to pick him up in Texas. “My condolences to the pilots and their families,” he wrote via his Instagram Story on Sunday. “This […]Hotel Eduards is located in the Venezuelan city of La Guaira and hosts the family and staff of Mejia’s team, according to the New York Post.
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Deal of the Day
Prime Day Is Almost Over! But These Bestselling Summer Flip Flops Are Still 64% Off View DealMejia is not the only athlete with MLB ties who was affected by its collapse. The wife and daughter of former reliever Eliezer Alfonso were also reported missing, as well as the wife of former MLB outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, according to local outlet El Regional del Zulia.
“We are devastated by the news of the earthquakes in Venezuela,” the Mets wrote in a statement shared via X on Thursday, June 25. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
As of Friday, June 26, the death toll stands at 589 with 2,980 injured, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
