The Mandalay Bay hotel security guard who was shot by gunman Stephen Paddock before he opened fire on a Las Vegas festival has bolted from a press conference and is nowhere to be found.

Jesus Campos escaped the media pack moments before cameras were about to roll on Thursday night (US time).

It follows Paddock opening fire at the Route 91 Harvest Festival from his 32nd floor hotel suite, killing 59 people and wounding 500 more earlier this month.

ABC News reporter Stephanie Wash said on Twitter Mr Campos was set to do five interviews with the media on October 12, but the guard’s union president had “lost contact”.

“We were in a room and we came out and he was gone,” Campos’ union president told reporters, according to Ms Wash.

Media scrum tonight as we learn security officer shot in Vegas attack, Jesus Campos’ whereabouts are unknown. pic.twitter.com/Jk09tRlPsX

— Stephanie Wash (@WashNews) October 13, 2017

Fox News presenter Sean Hannity said Campos was scheduled to appear on the network’s Hannity program on Thursday night, but had “cancelled” his appearance.

https://twitter.com/seanhannity/status/918662694277976065

It remains unclear where Jesus Campos is and why he has so far declined to provide public comment.

Earlier this week, police said they believed Mr Paddock shot Mr Campos in the leg through the door of the mass-murderer’s 32^nd floor suite before he opened fire on the concert earlier this month.

The account differs dramatically from the original sequence of events presented by officials last week that the gunman injured Mr Campos after shooting into the crowd.

Reporter Stephanie Wash said on Twitter that Mr Campos’ union president said the “new timeline” did not change the fact that the guard was a “hero” who saved a co-worker and possibly stopped additional shots.

It is thought Mr Campos used his radio and possibly a hallway phone to call hotel dispatchers for help after hearing gunfire.

Mr Paddock apparently detected Mr Campos via a video surveillance camera he set up outside his hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino.

Las Vegas Police Sheriff Joseph Lombardo had previously said Mr Paddock shot the unarmed guard at 9.59pm local time shortly before raining down bullets on the Route 91 Harvest festival in an attack that began at 10.05pm and lasted 10 minutes.

Police officers found a wounded Mr Campos when they arrived on the floor.

– with agencies