Luis Diaz’s father speaks out for the first time since being released after being kidnapped in Colombia… as he reveals his son told him to ‘carry on because things don’t end here’
Luis Diaz’s father has detailed his first conversation with his son after he was released 12 days after being kidnapped at gunpoint by ELN guerrillas in Colombia.
Luis Manuel Diaz spoke for the first time since his release on Friday and revealed he spoke to the Liverpool footballer, who played for his club against Toulouse in France on the day of his release.
Diaz was taken in an armed attack by the left-wing terror group on October 28 and a massive search was launched to locate and release him.
He was held at gunpoint with his wife and the government quickly blamed Colombia’s last remaining rebel group, the National Liberation Army. Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was left in a car.
Officials said they could not rule out the possibility that he had been smuggled across the border into Venezuela through dense jungle, meaning he would have been beyond the reach of Colombian police. A reward of around £40,000 was offered for crucial information.
Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez spoke for the first time since he was released after his kidnapping
He broke down in tears as he thanked God and his community during a press conference at his home in Colombia
He called on all parties to ‘lay down our weapons’ and work for peace in the country
He was eventually recovered and explained that he called his son as soon as possible, with the Liverpool star telling his father to “keep going because things don’t end here and to have a lot of strength to recover from everything that happened ‘.
Earlier on Thursday, Colombian media reported that the process of freeing Luis Diaz’s father had begun, when a helicopter took off from the town of Valledupar to a meeting point where rebels would organize the transfer.
Radar showed the helicopter circling close to the Venezuelan border in the Perija Mountains. Images after the handover showed Diaz Snr flanked by two men who appeared to be priests. He was then seen sitting on the floor while his blood pressure was checked.
Diaz spoke for the first time on Friday during the celebration of his return and called for peace in his country. “I ask my brothers from the mountains: let us put down our weapons, let us use the pen and the notebook, let us work so that Colombia is the country with the best peace,” he said.
Liverpool striker Luis Diaz had continued to play with his father in custody in the hope of his imminent release
Diaz Snr broke down in tears as he addressed the media on Friday after returning home the day before
He needed help to move after reportedly having to walk for a week straight due to his captors’ fear of being caught
Friends and family gathered nearby to greet him on his return, with Diaz thanking God for “a second chance” after driving home.
“I thank Colombia for this great support,” he added. ‘I will soon have the opportunity to greet them and give them a hug. Thank you very much, my people.’
Diaz needed physical assistance at the press conference after suffering an injured knee and reportedly having to walk for a week straight because his captors feared being caught.
He also revealed that no money was exchanged for his freedom, saying, “There was no offer of resources, there was no need, everything was done legally, thank God, they didn’t ask for resources, but that didn’t happen.”