US model and her family kidnapped at gunpoint in Brazil, held hostage in shack

A US model and her family were kidnapped at gunpoint after leaving a restaurant and held hostage in a shack in Brazil.

A New York-based model was kidnapped at gunpoint in Brazil along with her photographer husband and one of their kids – before being held hostage in a shack for 12 hours in a terrifying ordeal.

Luciana Curtis, her husband Henrique Gendre and their 11-year-old child were ambushed Wednesday night by a gang of armed men as they left a restaurant in Sao Paulo’s posh Alto do Lapa neighbourhood, local outlet Gazeta reported.

The 47-year-old Brazilian-born model and her family were forced at gunpoint into their own car and driven to the wooden shack in Brasilandia where they were held captive overnight, the New York Post reports.

Luciana Curtis, her husband Henrique Gendre and their child were ambushed by a gang of armed men after eating dinner in Sao Paulo Wednesday night. Picture: Instagram@lucurtis

The shack only had a mattress, toilet and sink inside, photos obtained by Brazilian media show.

“The armed criminals approached the victims outside a restaurant and took them captive,” police said in a statement.

The gang transferred money from the couple’s bank accounts before the family was eventually freed early Thursday, authorities said.

Cops, meanwhile, were already searching for trio after the couple’s eldest child – who didn’t go to dinner – realised they hadn’t returned home and alerted relatives.

“During the search by specialist police teams, the gang abandoned the family and fled,” police said.

The trio had to flag down locals and beg for help after they were cut loose.

The 47-year-old Brazilian-born model and her family were forced at gunpoint into their own car and driven to the wooden shack in Brasilandia where they were held captive for 12 hours. Picture: YouTube / Brasil Urgente

“The family has been released and they are safe and well,” a spokesperson for the model told local outlets.

Curtis, who was born in Sao Paulo, is the daughter of British businessman Malcolm Leo Curtis.

She reportedly lives in New York but splits time between Sao Paulo and London.

The model, who won the Brazilian final of Supermodel of the World in 1993, has graced the covers of Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan magazines.

She has modelled, too, for the likes of Harrods, H&M and Victoria’s Secret.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and has been reproduced with permission.