A professional footballer reportedly concealed himself under his bed out of sheer terror as his wife and young son were abducted during a horrific raid on their home.
Jackson Rodriguez, who plays as a defender for the Emelec club in Ecuador, has made a heartfelt appeal for the safe return of his family members.
The distressing incident took place late Wednesday evening in the coastal city of Guayaquil.
According to reports, masked intruders forcibly entered Rodriguez`s residence at approximately 3 am, breaking down the front door.
The 26-year-old player stated that he hid under a bed while the criminals ransacked the property, located in the Mucho Lote 2 neighbourhood.
Police chief Edison Rodriguez confirmed that the footballer`s wife and five-year-old son were seized by the abductors during the frightening home invasion.
Authorities confirmed that the kidnappers specifically asked if the Emelec player was present in the house before taking his wife and son.
Rodriguez managed to see from a window that “the individuals were travelling in a gray-colored double-cab pickup truck” as they made their escape.
His decision to hide beneath the bed enabled him to evade being captured by the intruders.
Last week, the Ecuadorian government declared a state of emergency in nine regions of the country due to escalating violence.
This emergency declaration encompasses the province of Guayas, where the city of Guayaquil is situated.
Organised criminal groups have been responsible for widespread turmoil across Ecuador, with statistics showing 2,345 violent deaths reported between January and March.
Rodriguez, known as a skilled full-back, has made 9 appearances for Emelec this season.
His club competes in the LigaPro, which is the highest football division in the country, and they are currently ranked 11th in the league standings.
Sadly, the kidnapping of football players or their family members is not an unprecedented event in Ecuador.
In a separate incident last December, Pedro Perlaza, a player for Quito, was abducted in the city of Esmeraldas.
Fortunately, he was discovered alive a few days after his kidnapping.
