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A Premier League footballer has a lucky escape thanks to the heroic efforts of an off-duty police officer in Brazil. Brazilian fullback Emerson Royal, 23, on holiday in the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo. He was outside a nightclub photos with the police officer. He was suddenly by the thief, who was with a handgun. The would-be assailant Mr Royal's watch and other belongings. Fortunately for Royal, the police officer into action and chased the thief down the street. The two involved in a 29-shot gunfight. The footballer unharmed, but was shaken by the attempted robbery. The police officer was shot in the back, but is now in hospital.

Mr Royal, a defender for the London club Tottenham Hotspur, said he would eternally grateful for the officer's heroics. He wrote: "God sends angels to Earth. This is every day in my life. This human being... his own life to mine." Royal's father the event as a "horror scene". He said he would not wish such a thing on anyone. He added: "I don't well. It all happened in a flash and the adrenaline was ." High profile footballers have a target for criminals in recent years. The website "Insider" there have more than 20 assaults on and robberies of soccer stars and their families across Europe's top leagues since 2019.