British paralympian Sam Ruddock has been missing in Las Vegas for more than 10 days.
The 35-year-old athlete — who has competed in cycling, shotput and sprinting events — traveled to the United States on April 13, per Sky News. He was last heard from three days later. Ruddock was allegedly supposed to leave his hostel near Las Vegas Boulevard on April 15, with trips later scheduled to New York and Texas.
His friend Lucy Hatton, former Team GB hurdler, claimed to have been in contact with the last hostel Ruddock was known to be staying at. The hostel informed her that he had not checked out or taken his belongings. Hatton noted that Ruddock was “very active on social media,” so when she did not receive contact from him after April 16, it “started to raise flags.”
British Cycling told the BBC that it understood Ruddock was reported missing to police in the United States and the U.K. “We urge anyone who has been in contact with Sam since 16 April or may have any information of his whereabouts to contact their local police department as soon as possible,” a spokesperson said.
Lincolnshire Police confirmed to the BBC that there was an active missing persons investigation. “We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Las Vegas and are in contact with the local authorities,” a foreign office spokesperson said.
Scroll down for what to know about Ruddock’s disappearance:
When Was Sam Ruddock Last Heard From?
The BBC reported that Ruddock traveled to the United States to watch a WrestleMania event and was last heard from on April 16.
When Was Sam Ruddock’s Last Social Media Post?
Ruddock last shared an Instagram post on April 16, where he was seen in the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by a man named Steve. “
VIVA LA RAZA,” Ruddock captioned the post.
“I’ve been here for the past three days now. Just touched down,” Ruddock explained to the driver, adding that he was visiting for WrestleMania. “Never been to Vegas. This is my first time.”
What Have Sam Ruddock’s Friends Said About His Disappearance?
Hatton told BBC that Ruddock’s disappearance is “really, really out of character” but said that he had not “been in quite the right headspace” recently. She also noted that Las Vegas police were treating him as a missing person.
While asking her followers for help searching for Ruddock, Hatton wrote in the caption of an Instagram post, “Sam, if you have seen this, you are loved so much and we just want to know you’re safe.”
What Has Sam Ruddock’s Family Said About His Disappearance?
Ruddock’s mother, Fran, told the BBC that they spoke every day and that her son was usually “very sociable.” She asked anyone who has crossed paths with Ruddock to contact her if they have information. “Anything at all to piece together the gaps,” she said.
