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Félix Eduardo, 84 years old, and Judith María, 79, are the stars of the video that touched the world: footage from a home security camera that captured them protecting each other during the devastating double earthquake that shook Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
Both granted an interview to Telemundo 51 to share their experiences, while their daughter Alexandra Quiñones spoke with Univision about the family impact of that moment.
The moment that paralyzed the world
“We still feel a little rushed”, confessed Félix Eduardo while recalling the moment the tremor began.
The elderly man recounted that he had gotten up to go to the kitchen when his wife called him. At that moment, he sensed that something was wrong, but he refrained from alarming her. When he reached her, they both realized it was an earthquake.
"It was very, very strong," he recounted. "There was no time to react at all, and luckily we were holding onto each other, arm in arm, and we were able to withstand the earthquake."
According to his testimony, as the house shook, objects began to fall and Judith screamed in fright, with both of them holding onto each other in an attempt to maintain their balance.
“I thought it was the end of one here”, Félix added.
Judith, for her part, acknowledged that the emotional impact lingers: “I still feel nervous,” she said, asserting that the aftershocks continue to scare her.
After the tremor, the couple was visited by a neighbor and her husband. “We had some chamomile tea to calm ourselves down,” Félix recalled, describing how they tried to recover from the fright.
About the video that went viral on social media, where they are seen embracing and him tenderly calming his wife, the elderly man explained simply: “We will have been married for 58 years. Supporting each other with love, with sadness, with joy...”
In his reflection, he insisted that what happened was not an extraordinary act but a natural one: “It was a very simple reaction when there is love.”
Félix also took the opportunity to send a message to other couples:
"This episode that my wife and I experienced... the message we want to send to couples is to love each other, respect each other, not to seek out who is better or worse, who is to blame or who is not; simply respect each other, care for each other; in difficult moments, embrace each other, in moments of joy, embrace each other."
And he concluded with a direct phrase: "May they never stop loving their wives and may wives never stop loving their husbands."
The couple has seven children, although most have emigrated to countries like the United States, Argentina, and Spain, leaving only the eldest in Venezuela.
How the video was leaked
The recording existed because the family has security cameras installed at home.
According to Alexandra's explanation to Univision, the clip first circulated privately:
"We have security cameras in the house, and the video was shared in the family chat among the siblings. We did see the original video firsthand, but then it was shared with other friends, and from there, the video got leaked without us knowing the extent of what it would cause."
In just a few hours, it accumulated millions of views on X, TikTok, and Instagram.
Alexandra acknowledged that the scope took everyone by surprise:
"This has caught us all by surprise. Mainly, they have been unable to understand the magnitude of all this because they don't use social media; they lead a very private, very intimate life."
What the daughter said about her parents
Alexandra described her father’s attitude not as an exceptional gesture, but as a constant in his life as a couple:
"My dad's relationship with my mom is a daily occurrence; it's something we're used to. My dad is a natural protector... it's something he does every day with my mom—caring for her and attending to her needs. They have a deep connection, and they both look out for each other."
He also emphasized that the scene was a collaboration between the two: "If you can see in the video, she takes him by the arm and holds him back as well. They made a wonderful team."
Upon seeing the images, Alexandra confessed to a mix of emotions:
"When I saw the video, I felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness at not being there to support them, to protect them, and to care for them physically."
Regarding the current state of her parents, she was emphatic: "My parents are very beloved people and they are well cared for, well accompanied," adding that they have the support of family, neighbors, and close friends in Venezuela.
Alexandra also revealed that her parents are going through a health situation that keeps them at home, away from the community service to which they dedicated their entire lives as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In response, the daughter offered them a new perspective:
"I told my dad that right now, without realizing it, they are serving as an example of love and the beautiful feelings that have been generated by people all over the world."
The message from Félix Eduardo to the world
The couple, who have seven children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, did not expect to become a symbol of love amid one of the greatest tragedies in Venezuela: the double earthquake left at least 2,645 dead and more than 12,666 injured, making it the most destructive earthquake recorded in the country since 1900.
Félix Eduardo, however, found a purpose in everything that happened. According to his daughter, his words were:
"If this video and this moment help couples come together, understand that they must take care of each other, protect each other, and love each other at all times, then I consider it a success."
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