Mourning in Uruguay: a broadcaster died during the live transmission of a match

A regular football day in Paysandú ended with news that shocked Uruguayan football. Marcelo "Pucho" Álvarez, a historic operator and announcer of CW 35 Radio Paysandú, passed away this Saturday while working in the station's studios during the broadcast of the match between Paysandú FC and La Luz at the Estadio Artigas, corresponding to matchday 18 of the Second Professional Division.

While the reporting team followed the match, which ended with La Luz winning 1-0, from the booths of the venue, Álvarez was in charge of the technical operation from the radio's studios, located in the Mac Center Shopping.

The situation began to draw attention when the broadcast experienced issues and the team members could no longer communicate with the central control. Initially, the problems were interpreted as a possible technical failure, but the lack of response from Álvarez raised alarms.

Jean Pierre Dutra, a member of the coverage team, then decided to head to the studios to check what was happening. Upon arrival, he found the main door locked from the inside and did not receive a response after ringing the bell.

Despite attempts to revive him, the professionals confirmed Álvarez's death at the scene. As part of the operation deployed in the shopping center, a preventive evacuation of the establishment was also arranged, which caused concern among workers and visitors who initially did not know the reason for the presence of emergency services.

The news was later confirmed by the family of Marcelo David Álvarez Bezmertney, his full name, through a death notice published in El Telégrafo. His parents, Ernesto Álvarez and Mirta Bezmertney; his son, Adrian; his sister and his nephews expressed their “deep sorrow” for the loss.

The burial, as reported by the family in the notice, had already taken place. Thus, the football community in Paysandú was marked by an unexpected farewell to one of the historic workers of the local radio.