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Former Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia credited “divine intervention” for saving his life when his elevator brought him to the wrong floor inside his Venezuela hotel moments before the building collapsed during a pair of earthquakes that left over 900 people dead.

Mejia, 36, had just wrapped up his gym session at the Hotel Eduards in La Guaira and was heading back to his room as the powerful quakes struck the Caracas region 39 seconds apart, the pitcher told Dominican sports radio show “Mañana Deportiva” (“Morning Sports”), according to Diario Libre.

Mejia boarded an elevator to return to his hotel room, but was instead brought to the building’s ground floor and main exit when another person requested the lift.


  The ruins of the Hotel Eduardo, following the tower’s collapse after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. @diamante23oficial/Facebook The ruins of the Hotel Eduardo, following the tower’s collapse after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026. @diamante23oficial/Facebook

“I was in the gym area. And at that moment, I took the elevator to leave,” Mejia said. “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 an act of “divine intervention” that brought him to the bottom floor and out of the hotel, 40 seconds before it crumbled.

“The door opened directly into the lobby. That’s when I came out and the building started to collapse,” he said. 

Mejia, who pitches for the La Guaira Delfines of the Venezuelan Major League, says he helped an elderly man out of the hotel, and believes they were the only two who survived the deadly destruction.

“With the agility I have, I helped an elderly gentleman. I was able to drag him away, take him with me,” he told the station. “I think only he and I (came out alive), the others are still there, trapped under the rubble.”


  Jenrry Mejia pitches for the New York Mets during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 4, 2014. Getty Images Jenrry Mejia pitches for the New York Mets during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 4, 2014. Getty Images

  A baseball player stands across the street looking at the collapsed hotel building in La Guaira, Venezuela. @diamante23oficial/Facebook A baseball player stands across the street looking at the collapsed hotel building in La Guaira, Venezuela. @diamante23oficial/Facebook

  Hotel Eduards, which touted itself for its “breathtaking ocean views and beach access,” hosted the families of players and staff of the Delfines and the Guerreros de Lara baseball teams. Google St View Hotel Eduards, which touted itself for its “breathtaking ocean views and beach access,” hosted the families of players and staff of the Delfines and the Guerreros de Lara baseball teams. Google St View

  The city of La Guaira, located 15 miles north of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was the hardest-hit area in the South American country during the earthquakes. @JesusBx17 via X via REUTERS The city of La Guaira, located 15 miles north of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was the hardest-hit area in the South American country during the earthquakes. @JesusBx17 via X via REUTERS

The city of La Guaira, located 15 miles north of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was the hardest-hit area in the South American country during the earthquake.

Hotel Eduards, which touted itself for its “breathtaking ocean views and beach access,” hosted the families of players and staff of the Delfines and the Guerreros de Lara baseball teams.

The wife and daughter of former Major League Baseball player Eliezer Alfonso were reported missing after the collapse, along with the wife of former MLB outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, according to Venezuelan outlet El Regional del Zulia.

Former minor leaguers Gersel Pitre and Harold Chirinos also reported relatives missing when the hotel toppled.

Guerreros players, still in their white uniforms, stood across the street from the hotel, taking in the tragic sight of the collapsed hotel, according to video obtained by Spanish baseball outlet Diamonte 23.


  Volunteers search through rubble for victims after a building collapsed during the powerful earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, on June 25, 2026. AFP via Getty Images Volunteers search through rubble for victims after a building collapsed during the powerful earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, on June 25, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

  Workers remove a person from the debris during search and rescue efforts in La Guaira on June 25, 2026. Getty Images Workers remove a person from the debris during search and rescue efforts in La Guaira on June 25, 2026. Getty Images

The magnitude-7.2 quake struck roughly 100 miles west of Caracas near San Felipe at 6 p.m. Wednesday, before an even bigger 7.5-magnitude temblor hit the town of Yumare, 27 miles away, 39 seconds later, according to the US Geological Survey. 

The death toll rose to at least 920 Friday, with 3,360 injured.

Here’s the latest on the Venezuela earthquakes

An estimated 70,000 families in the coastal state were affected by the deadly quake.

“It has become a disaster zone,” Rodriguez said as rescue efforts comb through the many debris fields of collapsed buildings.

Mejia revealed he lost all of his possessions, including his passport, and couldn’t fly home to the Dominican Republic because all flights had been suspended, according to El Nuevo Diario.


  Rescuers climb through rubble after a building collapsed from the twin earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, on June 25, 2026. AFP via Getty Images Rescuers climb through rubble after a building collapsed from the twin earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, on June 25, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

  A shoe with blood is left on the street in front of destroyed buildings in La Guaira, Venezuela. Getty Images A shoe with blood is left on the street in front of destroyed buildings in La Guaira, Venezuela. Getty Images

The ex-Mets closer pitched in Queens for his entire five-year MLB career from 2010 to 2015.

Mejia was banned for life by the league for failing his third drug test when he tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone in February 2016.

Mejia was given a discretionary reinstatement from Commissioner Rob Manfred after he served the minimum two-year ban.

He briefly signed with the Red Sox on a minor league contract, making appearances across the team’s entire farm system during the 2019 season before playing several years with multiple teams in the Mexican League.

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