HEARTWARMING photos show emotional Luis Diaz reuniting with his dad for the first time since his horror kidnap ordeal.
The pair, both in tears, could be seen hugging after the Liverpool winger arrived in Colombia.
Luis Manuel Díaz Jimenez, 58, feared he wouldn’t make it out alive as he endured a terrifying 12-day ordeal after being kidnapped by ELN guerrillas in Colombia.
But on Thursday last week the Liverpool star’s father was reunited with his jubilant friends and family after finally being released by the rebel group who captured him on October 28.
He revealed that one of the first things he did after his release was to call his son, who was playing for Liverpool against Toulouse at the time.
The 58-year-old, who broke down in tears as he relived the emotional exchange, revealed what his son told him.
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He said “to keep going because things don’t end here and to have a lot of strength to recover from everything that has happened”.
Díaz, who suffered some injuries after the horror kidnapping, also revealed that no money exchanged hands in order to secure his release.
He told local press: “There was no offer of resources, there was no need, everything was done legally, thank God , they did not request any resources, but that did not happen.”
As he spoke out for the first time about his ordeal, he said: “I thank God for this second chance”.
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“I thank Colombia for this great support”, he added, as crowds cheered.
He also thanked his local community for offering support to his family and said: “Thank you all, I love you very much.”
“Very soon I will have the opportunity to greet them and give them a hug. Thank you very much, my people.”
According to Caracol News he returned home with an injured knee, and could be seen resting in bed with family by his side after his homecoming.
Diaz was forced to walk for almost a week straight as his captors feared police would catch them.
The 58-year-old was seen getting out of a chopper in the border area between La Guajira and Cesar on November 9, where he was greeted by the UN rescue committee after his release.
The helicopter was seen at Valledupar airport after it was agreed the ELN would hand Díaz over to the committee somewhere in the Serranía del Perijá.
The release happened as a commission from the United Nations and the Catholic Church agreed to liaise with the ELN.
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The ace’s dad was seen waving as he exited the jet before he was given a medical check and taken to hospital for a more thorough exam.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
