James Rodriguez sends touching message to namesake who was paralysed in a football accident
Real Madrid star reaches out to police officer rendered quadriplegic during a match last year
REAL MADRID star James Rodriguez has sent a touching message to a namesake who was paralysed in a football accident.
The Colombian international, 25, reached out to a police officer rendered quadriplegic during a match last year.
In the game in Facatativa one of the goalposts fell on him, causing a spinal injury that left him unable to walk.
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The story of the brave police officer went viral after his wife Erika Hernandez and police pals asked the footballer to encourage him not to lose hope during a hospital stay.
The slogan of their campaign was “James, a wave for James.”
Rodriguez’s video message was seen in the hospital during a visit by Colombia’s national police chief General Jorge Hernando Nieto.
In the video, Rodriguez – who has been linked with Chelsea – says: “James, I hope you will be fine, brother, I send you a big greeting.
“At Christmas we have difficult moments but I think that we should face them with a lot of faith, with courage and trusting always in God, who is the one who can do all.
“I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope 2017 will be full of happiness, health and that you will recover soon.
“You are a fighter, you are a warrior and I admire people who never give up. I send you a big hug, namesake, and go ahead, brother.”
Police chief Hernando Nieto visited the officer to give him a Colombian national team shirt bearing the No10 and his name.
The injured officer said: “Although I do not know him personally, I am a faithful fan of my namesake.
“He is a great man, modest, humble. Not many people do something like this.”
His wife Erika added: “Despite the difficult times, our marriage is stronger every day and angels have shown us that miracles really exist.”
The couple met when she was 16 and he was 20, in a hospital where she was visiting her grandmother.
She recalls: “I started to receive some chocolates and one day I found out who was sending them. James was the person.
“He was working as security guard in the hospital, we met and we never separated.”
Three years later, he joined the national police and was transferred to Facatativa, eventually signing up for the fateful game that would change his life.