PHILADELPHIA — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expressed gratitude to the public for its help in finding a longtime friend of his who had disappeared after his father dropped him off at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
According to reports, Elijah Hoard, 23, had last been seen on Friday after his father took him to the airport for a flight back to his native France after a 10-day stay in Chicago. Hoard never checked in for the flight or boarded the plane, according to reports.
Hoard was found safe on Tuesday night, according to Wembanyama.
“He just got found, like one hour ago,” Wembanyama said after the Spurs’ 131-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. “I’m so happy. We’ve been close for a long time, his family and mine. And we always think it happens to others. That was the first time I saw this case for a close person [to me]. I’m very, very relieved.”
On Instagram on Monday, Wembanyama had implored the public for help in the search by sharing news of Hoard’s disappearance.
Wembanyama on Tuesday night reposted an update from Hoard’s family on the missing man, whom authorities located on surveillance cameras in the nearby suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.
