Luis Suarez helps to prevent suicide attempt after joining 20-HOUR rescue effort with his wife Sofia Balbi while on MLS post-season break in Uruguay

Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi helped in the rescue of a man threatening to take his own life.

The former Barcelona and Liverpool star is holidaying back in his homeland of Uruguay ahead of the start of the new MLS season with Inter Miami and his presence proved important in pacifying the man. 

Reports in Spain claimed that the 49-year-old man had climbed a six-metre-high tree and threatened to end his life if his partner, a 53-year-old woman, did not appear at the scene.  

The ordeal lasted almost 20 hours and prompted the mobilisation of the Republican Guard and others, including Suarez and his wife, who were taking a walk along the Solymar promenade, close to where the incident took place on Friday. 

According to Marca, the man was unarmed. It was reported that he is subject to precautionary measures related to domestic violence.

After many hours of conversation he was eventually persuaded to come down from the tree at around 5:30pm on Saturday. He was reportedly handed over to the Ministry of the Interior’s Specialised Unit for Domestic Violence once grounded. 

Luis Suarez and his wife Sofia Balbi were among those who talked the man down from his position

The 37-year-old is holidaying back in his homeland ahead of the start of the new MLS season

A member of the non-governmental organization specialising in social psychology told Telenoche Uruguay: ‘Suarez, a well-known Uruguayan player, approached us and what we did was, during that time of containment, try to talk in an empathetic and close way so that it wouldn’t be so long, even though this man has been there fighting for his life since yesterday.’

The 37-year-old striker is due to return to the United States in the coming days ahead the new campaign. Suarez agreed a 12 month extension at Chase Stadium after a stunning debut season. 

The veteran striker scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists as the outfit stormed to a record points tally in the Eastern Conference. However, Inter Miami’s season would ultimately end in disappointment as they were dumped out of the play-offs after a shock first round defeat by Atlanta. 

Following that defeat the club appointed former Barcelona and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano as their new coach for the 2025 campaign. 

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see Samaritans via their website.