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Family's joy as UK hostage freed Family's joy as UK hostage freed
(19 minutes later)
The family of a British man held hostage in Nigeria for more than six months said they were "elated" to hear his voice again after he was released.The family of a British man held hostage in Nigeria for more than six months said they were "elated" to hear his voice again after he was released.
Robin Hughes, 59, of St Margaret's Bay, Kent, was handed over to the military in Nigeria's southern oil region. Robin Hughes, 59, originally from St Margaret's Bay, Kent, was handed to the military in the southern oil region.
He had been held by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) since September.He had been held by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) since September.
Simon Hughes, 48, from Warninglid, West Sussex, said his brother "seemed fine and a bit overwhelmed... but quite ok". Simon Hughes, 48, from Blackstone, West Sussex, said his brother "seemed fine and a bit overwhelmed... but quite ok".
He said the seven months he had been held captive had felt like "seven years", but he was "elated" to hear his brother's voice again following hours of rumour about whether or not he would be released. He said the seven months he had been held captive had felt like "seven years".
"He sounded very much like the brother I know when I spoke to him on the phone, which was a great relief because we were concerned how this would affect him," Mr Hughes said.
Simon Hughes says his brother Robin is in good spiritsSimon Hughes says his brother Robin is in good spirits
He added that his brother, known to the family as Barry, had been suffering from a foot infection and was on antibiotics, and was also undergoing a debriefing by the Nigerian authorities.
"He was in good spirits. I asked him whether he felt ok and he said 'not really' because of the infection he is suffering from in his foot."
Mr Hughes, who was among 27 oil workers kidnapped by militants when their oil supply vessel was hijacked on 9 September, was taken to hospital after his release.Mr Hughes, who was among 27 oil workers kidnapped by militants when their oil supply vessel was hijacked on 9 September, was taken to hospital after his release.
It is believed his captors freed him because of his apparent ill health.It is believed his captors freed him because of his apparent ill health.
However, it is not yet known when he will return to the UK, as he lives in Brazil with his wife and 16-year-old daughter. Second hostage 'well'
Another brother, Mark Hughes, 53, said he was in a hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where he was in good spirits. He lives in Brazil with his wife and 16-year-old daughter, but is expected to return to the UK for the wedding next month of the daughter of his other brother, Mark.
'Tinged with sadness' Mark Hughes, 53, from Priory Hill, near Dover, Kent, spoke to his freed brother on Monday morning and said he "sounded a bit distant and not his normal self".
"We're going to open a bottle of champagne," he said. "I suppose that's to be expected given all that he has been through over the past several months.
He added the family's feelings were "tinged with a slight bit of sadness" over the uncertainty of a second British hostage, Matthew Maguire, from Birkenhead, Merseyside. "He is at a hotel at the moment, so I presume he has been discharged from the hospital where he was receiving treatment for his foot infection."
But Mr Hughes said it would be at least four days before he would be fit enough to travel.
"He is keen to get back to his wife and daughter in Brazil. His normal route back to Brazil is via Heathrow so I'm sure we'll meet him there."
A second British hostage, Matthew Maguire, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, is still being held captive.
Photographs of Mr Hughes and Mr Maguire were released in January, showing them looking dishevelled but uninjured in a forest clearing.Photographs of Mr Hughes and Mr Maguire were released in January, showing them looking dishevelled but uninjured in a forest clearing.
The group said they would not be released until the Nigerian government frees the group's leader, Henry Okah, who is currently being tried on charges of arms trafficking. But Simon Hughes said his brother had said Mr Maguire "was fit and well and doing ok".
"The good news is that we have been able to give that information to Matthew's family, which is important because information is so hard to come by over there.
"He is still being held captive. We haven't heard anything to say he will be released but we are hoping he will be," he said.
Kidnapping is common in the Niger Delta by armed groups trying to force the government to share oil revenue.Kidnapping is common in the Niger Delta by armed groups trying to force the government to share oil revenue.
Most of the 27 people captured in the September incident have already been released.Most of the 27 people captured in the September incident have already been released.