{"id":4897,"date":"2025-04-28T16:27:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T16:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/?p=4897"},"modified":"2025-04-29T11:36:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T11:36:30","slug":"friends-heartfelt-appeal-to-british-paralympian-missing-in-las-vegas-for-two-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/28\/friends-heartfelt-appeal-to-british-paralympian-missing-in-las-vegas-for-two-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"Friend\u2019s heartfelt appeal to British Paralympian missing in Las Vegas for two weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Sam\t<\/div>
Sam Ruddock shown in his last social media post before going missing in Las Vegas almost two weeks ago (Picture: Sam Ruddock, Instagram)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A close friend of British Paralympian Sam Ruddock<\/a> has said the athlete’s friends and family have \u2018no clues, no indication\u2019 of his whereabouts after he went missing on a trip to Las Vegas<\/a> 13 days ago.<\/p>\n

Chris Graves joined an appeal for anyone with information about the runner, cyclist and shot putter, who has cerebral palsy, to get in touch, saying any tip could make a ‘massive’ difference.<\/p>\n

The operations manager of school<\/a> sports charity<\/a>Inspire+ has been a close friend and colleague of Sam\u2019s for more than 12 years.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old athlete from Rugby<\/a>, Warwickshire, travelled to the US on April 13 planning to attend the WWE WrestleMania event, which took place over two nights at the Allegiant Stadium in Vegas the following weekend, and was last heard of three days after arriving. <\/p>\n

Chris said: \u2018Sam has been struggling with his mental health so it\u2019s just very concerning that he\u2019s out there on his own. <\/p>\n

‘We just want to know that he\u2019s safe, that\u2019s the bottom line really. <\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s been no direct contact with him or any social media activity since April 16. There\u2019s just so many options of what the situation could be that we just want to know he\u2019s safe.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Sam\t<\/div>
Sam Ruddock is shown riding in a car with a man named Steve in an Instagram video (Picture: Sam Ruddock, Instagram)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ParalympicsGB athlete\u2019s last known movement was riding in an Austin-Healey sports car with an American man named Steve he seemed to have just met, with a point-of-view video of the journey posted on his Instagram channel on the day he went missing. <\/p>\n

Staff at a hostel where he was staying said he had not checked out and has left his belongings in his room. <\/p>\n

In the video, Steve asks Sam how long he\u2019s been in the US, to which he replies \u2018three days\u2019 and indicates he might stay longer, before going on to say he has never been to Vegas before.  <\/p>\n

The charity ambassador appears to have hitchhiked with the driver, who drove him along the strip before dropping him off at the famous Silver and Gold pawn shop in Vegas, home of the TV show \u2018Pawn Stars.\u2019 <\/p>\n

The athlete had originally wanted to go to \u2018Fremont\u2019 \u2014 presumably the city\u2019s famous Fremont Street \u2014 until the driver recommended the pawnbroker’s shop, saying he had a friend there.<\/p>\n

As the pair get out of the car outside the store, Sam, who appears excitable and upbeat, ends the video so he can speak to Steve.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Metro.co.uk”,”duration”:”T30S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/28\/16\/97788477-0-image-a-23_1745854547997.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2025-04-28T16:34:30+0100″,”description”:”Ex-GB athlete Lucy Earl appeals for information about her long term friend, the British Paralympian Sam Ruddock, reported missing in Las Vegas.”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2025\/04\/28\/1037941468790635256\/480x270_MP4_1037941468790635256.mp4″,”height”:480,”width”:270}<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Up Next<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrevious Page<\/title>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__arrow metro-related-video-carousel__arrow--right disabled\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<title>Next Page<\/title>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-videos-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\twindow.addEventListener(‘metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded’, function(data) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof(data.detail) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === ‘undefined’) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(‘.metro-video-player’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(‘.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(‘metro-video-player–related-videos-loaded’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Chris told <strong>Metro: <\/strong>\u2018That\u2019s the last post and it\u2019s been reported and shared with the relevant authorities in Las Vegas, so we\u2019re hoping that the driver of that car can be found just to see what he may or may not know. <\/p>\n<p>‘He\u2019s the last person that we\u2019re all aware of who has physically seen Sam. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018The pawn broker\u2019s shop in Las Vegas has been contacted to see if they know anything but at present we have no clues and no indication as to where Sam might be.  <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Anybody with any sighting, any help or any intel would just be massive.\u2019 <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"379\" src=\"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/aa07e6c9-dd5a-459f-9fa4-5f0b73739345-2cd0.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22988257\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Sam Ruddock has become an ambassador for British sport after appearing in two Paralympic Games and other world events (Picture: ParalympicsGB)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sam, who is father to a two-year-old son and has a baby on the way, made his international debut at London 2012, running in the 100m and 200m T35 heats, a disability sport classification.  <\/p>\n<p>He then switched to shot put ahead of Rio 2016, where he finished sixth in the F35 category. The Paralympian then focused on cycling and became World Champion at the C1 1km Time Trial in 2022, for athletes with physical impairments, and defended his title a year later. <\/p>\n<p>Away from the competitive arena, Sam has been a big hit in schools where he has encouraged young people to take up sport. <\/p>\n<p>He has also written<a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2014\/04\/06\/sochi-2014-winter-paralympics-the-highs-and-lows-of-a-ground-breaking-games-for-paralympicsgb-4690435\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2014\/04\/06\/sochi-2014-winter-paralympics-the-highs-and-lows-of-a-ground-breaking-games-for-paralympicsgb-4690435\/\"> first-person pieces<\/a> for <strong>Metro<\/strong>, including how he has ‘realised the responsibility I now have to all my fellow brothers and sisters with cerebral palsy, to represent them and be an ambassador.’<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Sam\u2019s a lovely guy, he\u2019s a very bubbly, outgoing character and always has time to speak to everybody and anybody,\u2019 Chris said.  <\/p>\n<p>\u2018He is always interested in what you have to say about whatever it might be, he\u2019s someone who has very strong beliefs but would always welcome and recognise other people\u2019s beliefs as well. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018He wants to be everyone\u2019s friend and will help anyone when he can.\u2019  <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"861\" src=\"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/493539244_10171658349925472_2893761968558933664_n-26b4.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22988281\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>A missing person poster shared by friends and family of Sam Ruddock appealing for information about his whereabouts (Picture: Chris Graves, Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Appealing to Sam directly, Chris said: \u2018We just want Sam to know he is so loved by so many family and friends, and in a professional sense the teachers and children all adore him. He has been an inspiration over the years to thousands of young people and adults.  <\/p>\n<p>\u2018We want nothing more than to know he is safe, that is it.\u2019  <\/p>\n<p>In a statement, +Inspire said: \u2018We are deeply concerned and saddened to hear that longtime Inspire+ Ambassador and friend of the charity Sam Ruddock has been reported missing.  <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Sam was last heard from on April 16 and was on holiday visiting a WrestleMania event in Las Vegas.  <\/p>\n<p>\u2018As a valued member of Inspire+, we know this news is being felt by many, we are doing everything we can to support friends, family and staff and school communities who have been affected by this news.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>Chris also posted on Facebook: ‘Sam has been a very close friend & colleague of mine for over 12 years. <\/p>\n<p>‘If you\u2019re able to share these posters or send to anyone in the US please do <\/p>\n<p>‘Sam is currently unwell with his mental health, his family & family just want to know he\u2019s safe.’<\/p>\n<p>A Lincolnshire Police spokesperson confirmed there is an active missing persons investigation. <\/p>\n<p>A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: \u2018We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Las Vegas and are in contact with the local authorities.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>Anyone who has information about Sam\u2019s whereabouts is asked to contact the Las Vegas Police Department or Lincolnshire Police via 101 quoting incident number 0169-25.04.25. <\/p>\n<p>*For help and information around missing people and the related issues please visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.missingpeople.org.uk\/support-missing-people\/donate?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzrzABhD8ARIsANlSWNPRqi8mmubWfeR2oWpInpHKYszO1bllKD8E4vCOYMC2XqpFbohDh_MaAthpEALw_wcB\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.missingpeople.org.uk\/support-missing-people\/donate?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzrzABhD8ARIsANlSWNPRqi8mmubWfeR2oWpInpHKYszO1bllKD8E4vCOYMC2XqpFbohDh_MaAthpEALw_wcB\">Missing People charity’s website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:josh.layton@metro.co.uk\"><strong>josh.layton@metro.co.uk<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">\n<p><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"http:\/\/Parents%20will%20\u2018never%20give%20up%20hope\u2019%20for%20son%20as%20they%20unveil%20garden%20for%20missing%20people?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Parents will \u2018never give up hope\u2019 for son as they unveil garden for missing people<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2022\/01\/12\/families-of-missing-black-people-tells-of-discrimination-in-reporting-15900948\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Families of missing Black people say loved ones are \u2018ignored and criminalised\u2019<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2021\/09\/22\/tragedy-of-missing-black-people-is-hidden-legacy-going-back-a-decade-15025590\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">\u2018Tragedy\u2019 of missing Black people has hidden legacy going back a decade<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sam Ruddock shown in his last social media post before going missing in Las Vegas almost two weeks ago (Picture: Sam Ruddock, Instagram) A close friend of British Paralympian Sam<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/28\/friends-heartfelt-appeal-to-british-paralympian-missing-in-las-vegas-for-two-weeks\/\" class=\"readmore\">Continue reading<svg class=\"icon icon-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\"> <use href=\"#icon-arrow-right\" xlink:href=\"#icon-arrow-right\"><\/use> <\/svg><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Friend\u2019s heartfelt appeal to British Paralympian missing in Las Vegas for two weeks<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4897"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4897"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4904,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4897\/revisions\/4904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}