Friends of missing Paralympian Sam Ruddock are desperately trying to hunt down a mystery Las Vegas man who was last seen with the Brit.
Before his disappearance, the 35-year-old, who has represented Team GB in shot put, cycling and sprinting, posted several videos of himself in Sin City to his Instagram. But during one ten-minute clip, it shows him being driven towards the famous Las Vegas Strip. Sam is seen chatting to “Steve” as he tells him about his stay in the States and how he arrived in the US to attend WrestleMania.
However, friends were aware that the London Paralympics star did not have a ticket or much money. Hours later, on the 16th of April, after the video was uploaded, all contact with Sam stopped, and no one has heard from him since. His phone is no longer receiving messages.
Close friend Lucy Earl has started a campaign to find Sam, as police in Las Vegas and Lincoln, where his mother lives, have opened a missing persons case. Speaking to the Mirror, she told me how she had frantically contacted hostels, hotels, hospitals, US police, and even US immigration in her bid to locate the athlete.
Lucy said: “We were receiving messages from Sam from when he landed from the 13th to 16th, but then no one heard anything from Sam since then. He posted several videos of himself in Vegas, and one shows him being driven by a guy called ‘Steve’ in an Austin Healey convertible. We are trying to locate who that Steve was in that car, as he may know something that can help.”
Missing people are falling through the gaps, experiencing serious harm while they are away, with little or no support to help address the reasons why they left. They need help, so they don’t go missing again.
A dedicated strategy led by the Home Office, Department for Education, and Department for Health and Social Care would provide the proper attention and resources.
Without this, thousands will continue to go missing without support. and, when they return, there will be no meaningful opportunity to speak to anyone about why they left, or what happened while they were away. This leaves vulnerable people, who are often in crisis, with no support.
Life is never hopeless. Everyone should know that someone cares, and that help is available from organisations such as the charity Missing People.
The Mirror is calling for:
• The publication of a new missing children and adults strategy to ensure police, health and social care play their part
• Investment in prevention for those at most risk of going missing
• Support to be offered to every missing child and adult on their return
You can help by signing our petition here.
It appears Sam may have hitched a ride with ‘Steve’. As the American drives the two chat about where Sam should be dropped off – eventually settling on the famous Pawn Shop, home to the US reality TV show Pawn Stars. The athlete initially says he wanted to get to Fremont – presumably Fremont Street, the city’s second most-famous strip after the Las Vegas Strip itself.
However, the driver explains he can’t take him that far and instead leaves him at the Pawn Shop, offering advice along the way about local friends and contacts the sportsman should meet while in town. Lucy told how she has since spoken with the Bungalow Hostel, where Sam was staying with staff, saying he checked in on the 14th.
She added: “He was supposed to check out on the 15th, but he’s never checked out. All of his belongings are still there, and they’re keeping them safe. I don’t even know at this point if Sam’s got his passport on him.”
Lucy said her concerns for Sam, who has been close to her for the past ten years, were raised when he stopped messaging her. “He texts every day,” she said. “He’s one of those lovely people that you wake up and you go, ‘oh my goodness, 30 Instagram stories’.
Missing people: Facts and Myths
Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that’s one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal.
For adults over 18, going missing isn’t illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don’t need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals.
How the Missing People charity Supports Families
Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one’s appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It’s free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left.
The Role of Public Appeals
Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map.
When sharing appeals, it’s crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person’s right to be forgotten is upheld.
By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found.
He flew out to Vegas to watch WrestleMania. He never had a ticket. I told him, ‘You know you haven’t got a ticket? And he said, ‘No, I’m hopefully going to have enough money.’ So I’ve got a really bad feeling that something’s happened.”
Lucy said that before Sam’s disappearance, she received some “nonsensical” messages from him. She explained: “He turned around and said, “You know, you’re my, you know, my guardian angel. I love you’ and that’s not like him. “Some of his messages were about the Matrix and saying leading on God’s path, following the third eye. So I think some things were quite nonsensical.
Missing people: Facts and Myths
Every year, 170,000 people vanish in the UK – that’s one person every 90 seconds. Fortunately, most return home within a few days, often without the need for a public appeal.
For adults over 18, going missing isn’t illegal, but the police will want to ensure their safety. If there are concerns for their welfare, a public appeal might be launched. Importantly, you don’t need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. If their absence is unusual, contact the police immediately. Any child who goes missing will be looked for by police though they are not often given public facing appeals.
How the Missing People charity Supports Families
Missing People works closely with the police to amplify missing appeals and provide vital support to families. They offer practical help in searches and emotional support to those affected. If you need assistance or want to see your loved one’s appeal on the Missed map, call their Helpline on 116 000. It’s free, confidential and non-judgemental. They are also there to listen if you are thinking of disappearing or have already left.
The Role of Public Appeals
Not all missing cases are made public. In situations involving domestic abuse or severe mental health issues, publicity might do more harm than good. That is one reason why you will only see a fraction of missing cases on the Missed map.
When sharing appeals, it’s crucial to use the official channels from the Missing People website or via the share button on the Missed map. This ensures that once the person is found, all traces of the appeal are removed, respecting their privacy. The Mirror is committed to removing digital footprints of shared appeals, ensuring the missing person’s right to be forgotten is upheld.
By sharing official appeals, you help protect the privacy and dignity of those who have been found.
“In complete honesty, he wasn’t in an oppressive state; he was more in a manic state, on cloud nine and especially mixed in with WrestleMania. He had a lot of excitement. He didn’t have a ticket but but I don’t believe he would’ve gotten one. I don’t think he would have had the funds to do it.”
Anyone with information about Sam’s whereabouts is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police or the Las Vegas Police Department. Contact details for the search are 07951 302953 or Lincolnshire Police 101 quoting incident number 0169-25.04.25
• The Mirror is using its platform to launch Missed – a campaign to shine a light on underrepresented public-facing missing persons in the UK via a live interactive map, in collaboration with Missing People Charity. Because every missing person, no matter their background or circumstances, is someone’s loved one. And they are always Missed.
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