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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| American 'worldwide traveller' freed in Syria | American 'worldwide traveller' freed in Syria |
| (2 days later) | |
| An American blogger reportedly trying to visit every country in the world has been released from custody in Syria with the help of Lebanese officials. | An American blogger reportedly trying to visit every country in the world has been released from custody in Syria with the help of Lebanese officials. |
| The release was first announced by the officials without naming the American citizen. | The release was first announced by the officials without naming the American citizen. |
| He was later identified by his parents as Sam Goodwin, 30. They thanked a Lebanese general for helping. | He was later identified by his parents as Sam Goodwin, 30. They thanked a Lebanese general for helping. |
| The US state department said it was "aware of reports" of a US citizen's release from Syria. | The US state department said it was "aware of reports" of a US citizen's release from Syria. |
| But it added that "privacy considerations prevent us from commenting further on this case". | But it added that "privacy considerations prevent us from commenting further on this case". |
| In a statement to US media, Mr Goodwin's family said: "Sam is healthy and with his family. | In a statement to US media, Mr Goodwin's family said: "Sam is healthy and with his family. |
| "We are forever indebted to [Lebanese] General Abbas Ibrahim and to all others who helped secure the release of our son. | "We are forever indebted to [Lebanese] General Abbas Ibrahim and to all others who helped secure the release of our son. |
| "We will have more to say at a later date." | "We will have more to say at a later date." |
| Travel advice | Travel advice |
| According to his website, Mr Goodwin grew up in St Louis and quit his job at a start up company in Singapore last year to travel to every country in the world. | According to his website, Mr Goodwin grew up in St Louis and quit his job at a start up company in Singapore last year to travel to every country in the world. |
| "I couldn't be more grateful for the perspective on the world I've developed through my experiences," he wrote on the site, Searching4Sam. | "I couldn't be more grateful for the perspective on the world I've developed through my experiences," he wrote on the site, Searching4Sam. |
| According to the UK's Daily Telegraph, Mr Goodwin was detained by Syrian forces after leaving the Kurdish-held north-eastern city of Qamishli. | According to the UK's Daily Telegraph, Mr Goodwin was detained by Syrian forces after leaving the Kurdish-held north-eastern city of Qamishli. |
| Several American citizens are believed to be held in Syria, including journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while working for the Washington Post in August 2012. | |
| Last May, his parents told NBC News they had "no doubt" Mr Tice was still alive. | Last May, his parents told NBC News they had "no doubt" Mr Tice was still alive. |
| Until his release, Mr Goodwin was not previously known to have been trapped in Syria. | Until his release, Mr Goodwin was not previously known to have been trapped in Syria. |
| In its statement the state department said it continued "to work through every possible means to ensure the safe release of US citizens reported missing or taken hostage in Syria". | In its statement the state department said it continued "to work through every possible means to ensure the safe release of US citizens reported missing or taken hostage in Syria". |
| US citizens are advised against travelling to Syria, due to the ongoing civil war which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. | US citizens are advised against travelling to Syria, due to the ongoing civil war which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. |
| Read more: Why is there a war in Syria? | Read more: Why is there a war in Syria? |