Adrian Heath: Ex-Everton star kidnapped and held to ransom | OneFootball

“You obviously realise this isn’t what you thought it was going to be,” Adrian Heath was told after landing in Morocco, recounting a kidnap ordeal and ransom demand.

“If you don’t, you won’t see your wife again. You won’t see your two kids or your grandkids.” He told The Athletic the threats followed a fake approach for a Saudi job and a flight to Morocco in November.

He had checked the opportunity with trusted contacts, including Steven Gerrard. On arrival, he was greeted with flowers, driven to a harbour town and taken into a room with three men. As night dragged into morning, a knife was pressed to his throat.

“I started thinking about all the good stuff in my life. My wife. My children. My grandkids.” When he told his wife to transfer money, she sensed something was wrong. “Adrian, we changed bank accounts less than 12 months ago,” she said.

“You’re the main name on it. I can’t transfer anything without you.” The call then ended, before a smaller six-figure demand followed. Their son, Harrison Heath, used the Find My Friends app with his wife, Kaylyn Kyle, to pinpoint Heath.

Armed with a screenshot, Harrison confronted the agent and called a family friend at the FBI in New York. Heath was released when another man entered the room, then reunited with his wife in the United States. The FBI provided 48 hours of protection at their home.

Source: Sunderland Echo