Grieving family members attend the funeral of a 14-year-old boy shot during ...

Grieving family members and friends were at the funeral of a 14-year-old boy shot dead during a fierce uprising in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

Yhoifer Hernandez was one of five people killed after thousands launched protests against President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The child was hit by gunfire during Wednesday's clashes in Caracas, while 16-year-old Yosner Graterol died from a gunshot wound after unrest in the northern town of La Victoria on Tuesday.

Friends of 14-year-old Venezuelan boy Yhoifer Hernandez cry at his funeral after he was killed during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government

Friends of 14-year-old Venezuelan boy Yhoifer Hernandez cry at his funeral after he was killed during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government

The heartbreaking scenes were captured at the Eastern Cemetery in La Guairita, Caracas, where the boy was buried yesterday

The heartbreaking scenes were captured at the Eastern Cemetery in La Guairita, Caracas, where the boy was buried yesterday

Yhoifer's tombstone yesterday was a grey, mud-splattered brick, which was adorned with flowers after the emotional service

Yhoifer's tombstone yesterday was a grey, mud-splattered brick, which was adorned with flowers after the emotional service  

A crowd of around 100 people gathered in the sandy graveyard for a service, with some seen holding umbrellas and another clutching the flag of Venezuela

A crowd of around 100 people gathered in the sandy graveyard for a service, with some seen holding umbrellas and another clutching the flag of Venezuela

A girl is consoled by a women as she weeps into her arms during the service. Yhoifer was hit by gunfire during Wednesday's clashes in Caracas, while 16-year-old Yosner Graterol died from a gunshot wound after unrest in the northern town of La Victoria on Tuesday

A girl is consoled by a women as she weeps into her arms during the service. Yhoifer was hit by gunfire during Wednesday's clashes in Caracas, while 16-year-old Yosner Graterol died from a gunshot wound after unrest in the northern town of La Victoria on Tuesday

Heartbreaking pictures show Yhoifer's relatives and supporters break down in tears at the Eastern Cemetery in La Guairita, Caracas, as they buried the child yesterday.

A group of female attendees can be seen desperately clinging to Yhoifer's coffin - which had been covered with a white sheet during a service.

Another image shows the mud-splattered slab of brick used as his tombstone, which had his name sprayed on to it in black paint.

A crowd of around 100 people gathered in the sandy graveyard for a service, with some seen holding umbrellas and another clutching the flag of Venezuela.

A couple stand at the boy's grave which has a pile of soil ready to be smoothed over it as well as being littered with flowers brought by friends and family

A couple stand at the boy's grave which has a pile of soil ready to be smoothed over it as well as being littered with flowers brought by friends and family

A boy, believed to be a friend of Yhoifer, bows his head and hugs a woman during the service yesterday. The woman wipes her eyes during the gathering

A boy, believed to be a friend of Yhoifer, bows his head and hugs a woman during the service yesterday. The woman wipes her eyes during the gathering

A group of young girls and boys walk to the service in the Venezuelan capital yesterday carrying flows and one girl wipes away tears using a pink tissue

A group of young girls and boys walk to the service in the Venezuelan capital yesterday carrying flows and one girl wipes away tears using a pink tissue

An alternative shot shows groups of people after the ceremony for 14-year-old Yhoifer yesterday. Heartbreaking pictures showed his friends and family break down in tears during a ceremony for him

An alternative shot shows groups of people after the ceremony for 14-year-old Yhoifer yesterday. Heartbreaking pictures showed his friends and family break down in tears during a ceremony for him

The crowd of around 100 friends, family and supporters of the cause against President Nicolas Maduro walk towards the graveyard yesterday

The crowd of around 100 friends, family and supporters of the cause against President Nicolas Maduro walk towards the graveyard yesterday

It follows a week of bloodshed in Venezuela as the military loyal to President Maduro crushed an uprising inspired by opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

Mr Guaidó has urged his supporters to converge on military garrisons to try to persuade military forces to turn against Maduro, whose years in office have been marked by escalating hardship for most people in a country that was once one of the wealthiest in Latin America.

But in a show of strength yesterday, President Maduro posed for a photo with thousands of his soldiers and bellowed 'loyal forever' to a crowd of cadets in green uniforms.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (centre) poses for a picture with soldiers during a demonstration called 'march of the military loyalty'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (centre) poses for a picture with soldiers during a demonstration called 'march of the military loyalty'

President Nicolas Maduro walks next to high commanders of the Armed Forces as he heads up a group of thousands of loyal soldiers during a demonstration

President Nicolas Maduro walks next to high commanders of the Armed Forces as he heads up a group of thousands of loyal soldiers during a demonstration

'Loyal forever,' Maduro bellowed to a crowd of soldiers and cadets who had joined him on the march of 'loyalty' yesterday

'Loyal forever,' Maduro bellowed to a crowd of soldiers and cadets who had joined him on the march of 'loyalty' yesterday 

But this morning, in a blow for Presidnet Maduro, seven Venezuelan military officers were killed after their helicopter crashed while heading to the state where he appeared alongside troops.

The Cougar helicopter hurtled into a mountain outside Caracas in the early hours of an overcast day in the capital and an investigation has been launched.

On board the helicopter were two lieutenant colonels as well as five lower-ranking officers.

The statement did not say if the chopper was part of the presidential delegation.

A French-made Cougar helicopter is shown during a military exercise on January 29. Seven military officers were killed when a helicopter (similar to that pictured) crashed into a mountain outside Caracas this morning

A French-made Cougar helicopter is shown during a military exercise on January 29. Seven military officers were killed when a helicopter (similar to that pictured) crashed into a mountain outside Caracas this morning

Also in Caracas yesterday, a protester handed over a written appeal for the military's support, only for a Venezuelan policeman to burn the document in front of him.

The armed forces

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