Former Wigan, St Helens and Bradford star Bryn Hargreaves, who has been missing in the US for over a month, suffered a car crash in December, his family have revealed.
Hargreaves, 36, has been living Stateside for a decade but has not been in touch with his family since just after the New Year.
The prop forward retired aged 26 after his contract wasn't renewed by Bradford, who were in serious financial difficulties.
After meeting an American woman while on holiday in Mexico the year previous, Hargreaves moved across the Atlantic in 2012 where he resided in Pittsburgh with his wife.
But things didn't go to plan: his marriage didn't last and he was working for an engineering firm which wasn't the job he wanted, despite progressing into the role of project manager.
Before the Covid pandemic hit two years ago, a job transfer saw Hargreaves move to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he went missing last month.
The crash on December 8 left him with a back injury and an un-drivable Jeep, meaning Hargreaves had been relying on Ubers or walking to get around.
He had been on medical leave from work since the incident.
A colleague of Hargreaves contacted the ex-Super League star's family to enquire about his wellbeing after he hadn't been seen for a while.
When police tried the door to his apartment on January 16, it was unlocked, with his wallet and keys present.
Hargreaves' brother, David, who travelled to the US with his mother to help with the search, confirmed the car crash had left his sibling frustrated.
"He hasn't been in a good place, " he told the Dominion Post.
"I think COVID, the crash, the season — Christmas — and I think something along with the medication because of his injury," his mother added, trying to explain the reasoning behind Hargreaves' disappearance.
The search for Hargreaves is continuing, though the elements in West Virginia have made it difficult.
Detective Stephen Currie, the lead investigator on the case, said: "We have people out there almost every day. It hasn't been easy with the snow.
"It takes time. I know people get frustrated. We know he's not driving his car."
Hargreaves has not been spotted on CCTV or at any businesses and restaurants he was known to frequently visit.
His brother added: "We know the police are doing everything they can. And we're so thankful for the support of everyone else, with the social media push."
Hargreaves hasn't been in the UK since returning home for the wedding of his other brother, Gareth, three years ago.
On that visit, he was teased for his new Americanised accent.
"He now says 'aluminum,' whereas we still say 'awl-you-min-EEH-um," David remembered.
"Everybody loves him. I'd call him an English gentleman."
