British Paralympian missing in Las Vegas for two weeks found safe

File photo dated 05/08/23 of Great Britain's Sam Ruddock on the podium with a gold medal for the Men's C1 1km Time Trial during day three of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow. Paralympian Sam Ruddock has been reported missing in Las Vegas as he was last heard from over a week ago. Issue date: Sunday April 27, 2025. PA Photo. The 35-year-old, from Warwickshire, who has competed in cycling and shot put, travelled to the US on April 13 and was planning to attend WrestleMania, his friend Lucy Earl said. Mr Ruddock, who has cerebral palsy, was last heard from on April 16 and has since been reported missing to police in the UK and US. Mrs Earl, who has been friends with Mr Ruddock for over 10 years, said he stayed with her the night before his flight and she last heard from him on April 16. See PA story POLICE Ruddock . Photo credit should read: Tim Goode/PA Wire — Great Britain’s Sam Ruddock on the podium with a gold medal for the Men’s C1 1km Time Trial during day three of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

A British Paralympian has been found safe in Las Vegas, Nevada, after vanishing some two weeks ago.

Sam Ruddock, 35, travelled to the US on April 13 to attend a wrestling tournament.

His mother, Fran Ruddock, said he was watching WrestleMania 41 in Paradise.

But the gold medalist from Rugby, Warwickshire, was reported missing last Thursday.

Sam, who has represented Team GB in shot put, cycling and sprinting, has since been tracked down.

Las Vegas police told Metro: ‘A missing person report was filed on April 24, 2025.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Sam Ruddock of Great Britain competes in the Men's 200m T35 heats on day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium on September 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images) — Sam represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympic Games (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Through the course of the investigation, the individual has been located safe.’

His friend, Lucy Earl, confirmed that Sam has been found on Instagram. She said that the athlete is ‘physically well’ and thanked people for sharing her missing person campaign.

‘Let’s get that boy home,’ the fitness trainer added in a video of herself laughing and smiling.

The British Foreign Office told Metro: ‘We are in touch with the local authorities in Las Vegas and stand ready to provide consular support.’

The ParalympicsGB athlete’s last known movement had been riding in an Austin-Healey sports car with an American man named ‘Steve’.

This was shown in a point-of-view video of the journey Sam posted on his Instagram channel on the day he went missing. He discussed hitchhiking and being dropped off at the Pawn Shop, where the reality TV show Pawn Stars is set.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIhOSDMo3-p/?hl=en

Hours later, friends and family said all contact with Sam ended.

Staff at a hostel where he was staying, Bungalow Hostel, said he checked in on April 14 and had not checked out as he was meant to the following day. His belongings were in his room.

Chris Graves, who knows Sam, told Metro earlier today: ‘We just want to know that he’s safe, that’s the bottom line really.

‘There’s been no direct contact with him or any social media activity since April 16. There’s just so many options of what the situation could be that we just want to know he’s safe.’

Sam competed in the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games and has cerebral palsy.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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British Paralympian missing in Las Vegas for two weeks found safe

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