A British Paralympian vanished on holiday in Las Vegas more than a week ago and his family have now issued a desperate plea for help.
Sam Ruddock, 35, who has represented Britain in shot put, cycling and sprinting, had gone alone to the American city to watch the annual WWE WrestleMania event.
But the athlete from Rugby, Warwickshire, who represented Team GB at the London 2012 Paralympics and Rio 2016, has not been heard from since April 16 – nearly two weeks ago. This is also the date of his last Instagram post – which sees him apparently hitchhiking.
Las Vegas police are now treating him as a missing person and officers in the UK, US and even with Interpol are aware of his disappearance.
Mr Ruddock, who has cerebral palsy, is a father to a two-year-old son and has a baby on the way – and his family are desperate for help to bring him home to them.
His mother Fran Ruddock, of Lincoln, said he normally speaks to her every day and is ‘very sociable’, as reported by the Mirror.
She pleaded for anyone in the UK or US with information to get in touch: ‘Anything at all to piece together the gaps.’
His friend Lucy Hatton drove him to the airport on April 13 and knew he was staying in a hostel – but it is believed he did not make it to the wrestling event he went to see, which was set to take place on April 19 and 20.
Sam Ruddock (pictured), 35, who has represented Britain in shot put, cycling and sprinting, had gone alone to the American city to watch the annual WWE WrestleMania event
His latest Instagram post (pictured, a still), shared on April 16, is a long video of him riding in an Austin-Healey sports car with an American man he seems to have just met
His friend Lucy Hatton drove him to the airport on April 13 and knew he was staying in a hostel – but it is believed he did not make it to the wrestling event he went to see, which was set to take place on April 19 and 20. Pictured: Mr Ruddock at a WWE event in the UK last month
He was ‘very active on social media’, she said – so when all contact and online activity suddenly stopped, it raised alarm bells, as it was ‘really, really out of character’.
But she did add he has not ‘been in quite the right headspace’ recently.
Interpol has said it has no record of Mr Ruddock taking a flight back to the UK.
Staff at the hostel he was staying at have said he did not check out and his belongings are still in his room.
His latest Instagram post, shared on April 16, is a long video of him riding in an Austin-Healey sports car with an American man he seems to have just met.
The man asks him, ‘How long have you been in the States?’, to which Mr Ruddock replies, ‘Three days’.
He also asks why he came to Vegas – and the athlete explains it was for the wrestling event.
The American man then mysteriously says, ‘Oh, so you might stay?’, to which Mr Ruddock replies, ‘Yeah’, before getting distracted by showing his shirt to the camera.
But the athlete from Rugby, Warwickshire, who represented Team GB at the London 2012 Paralympics and Rio 2016, has not been heard from since April 16 – nearly two weeks ago. Pictured: Mr Ruddock running the 200m sprint at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
In his latest Instagram post (pictured, a still), the man asks him, ‘How long have you been in the States?’, to which Mr Ruddock replies, ‘Three days’
Las Vegas police are now treating him as a missing person and officers in the UK, US and even with Interpol are all aware of his disappearance. Pictured: Mr Ruddock, back left, with other British Paralympians in 2013
It seems as if Mr Ruddock has hitchhiked with the man, as they discuss where he is going to drop him off. Pictured: A still from his latest Instagram post
Mr Ruddock (left, at London 2012), who has cerebral palsy, is a dad to a two-year-old son and has a baby on the way – and his family are desperate for help to bring him home to them
Ms Hatton was deeply concerned for her friend (pictured), a ‘fantastic human being’ who loved going into schools to inspire the next generation of athletes
It seems as if Mr Ruddock has hitchhiked with the man, as they discuss where he is going to drop him off – at the Pawn Shop, where American reality TV show Pawn Stars is filmed, about the day-to-day running of the shop.
The athlete says he wanted to go to ‘Fremont’ originally – presumably Fremont Street, the city’s second most-famous street after the Strip.
But the American man says he cannot take him all the way so drops him off at the Pawn Shop instead – and tells the sportsman about various friends of his in the city he should get to know.
Mr Ruddock mentions having left some of his stuff behind in his hostel room, which he was sharing with minor-league baseball players: ‘They’re chill.’
Ms Hatton was deeply concerned for her friend, a ‘fantastic human being’ who loved going into schools to inspire the next generation of athletes.
A British Cycling spokesperson said it was understood Mr Ruddock had been reported missing both to British and American police.
They added: ‘We urge anyone who has been in contact with Sam since April 16 or may have any information of his whereabouts to contact their local police department as soon as possible.’
A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson said there was an active missing persons investigation.
His mother Fran Ruddock, of Lincoln, said he normally speaks to her everyday and is ‘very sociable’. Pictured: Mr Ruddock ahead of the IPC Athletics World Championship in Doha in 2015
In his latest Instagram post (pictured, a still), Mr Ruddock mentions having left some of his stuff behind in his hostel room, which he was sharing with minor-league baseball players: ‘They’re chill’
His friend Lucy Hatton drove him to the airport on April 13 and knew he was staying in a hostel – but it is believed he did not make it to the wrestling event he went to see, set to take place on April 19 and 20
The athlete then turned his attention to cycling in 2018 and was selected for the British team at the Para Cycling Track World Championships in 2019. Pictured: Mr Ruddock with his gold medal at the Men’s C1 1km Time Trial in 2023
Mr Ruddock made his international debut at London 2012 (pictured), running in the 100m and 200m T35 heats, the Paralympic track division for those with coordination impairments
Mr Ruddock made his international debut at London 2012, running in the 100m and 200m T35 heats, the Paralympic track division for those with coordination impairments.
He then switched events to shot put ahead of Rio 2016, finishing sixth in the F35 category – after taking silver at the European Championships the same year.
The athlete then turned his attention to cycling in 2018 and was selected for the British team at the Para Cycling Track World Championships in 2019.
Mr Ruddock soared to become World Champion at the C1 1km Time Trial, for those with physical impairments, in 2022 – and defended his title a year later.
