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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Ecstasy' over sailors' release | 'Ecstasy' over sailors' release |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Family and friends of Welsh sailors and marines due to be freed by Iran have described their relief. | Family and friends of Welsh sailors and marines due to be freed by Iran have described their relief. |
| Three of the 15 held are from Wales - Lieutenant Felix Carman, from Gower, Andrew Henderson, from Wrexham, and Corporal Dean Harris, from Carmarthen. | Three of the 15 held are from Wales - Lieutenant Felix Carman, from Gower, Andrew Henderson, from Wrexham, and Corporal Dean Harris, from Carmarthen. |
| The group is expected to be flown home to Britain on Thursday. | The group is expected to be flown home to Britain on Thursday. |
| Andrew Henderson's uncle said the family was "ecstatic", while Lt Carman's parents described their "disbelief" at the news. | Andrew Henderson's uncle said the family was "ecstatic", while Lt Carman's parents described their "disbelief" at the news. |
| The group had been held in Tehran since 23 March after being accused of straying into Iranian waters, a claim denied by the UK government. | The group had been held in Tehran since 23 March after being accused of straying into Iranian waters, a claim denied by the UK government. |
| I just fell to the floor and I think Paul burst into tears - it was so totally unexpected Alison Carmen | I just fell to the floor and I think Paul burst into tears - it was so totally unexpected Alison Carmen |
| Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced on Wednesday all 15 were being released as a "gift" to Britain. | Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announced on Wednesday all 15 were being released as a "gift" to Britain. |
| They are expected to be handed to the British embassy in Tehran on Thursday morning and then flown home. | They are expected to be handed to the British embassy in Tehran on Thursday morning and then flown home. |
| Lt Carman's parents, Alison and Paul, from Port Eynon, in south Gower, described their shock at hearing the news their son would be released. | Lt Carman's parents, Alison and Paul, from Port Eynon, in south Gower, described their shock at hearing the news their son would be released. |
| Mrs Carman said: "I just fell to the floor and I think Paul burst into tears - it was so totally unexpected. | Mrs Carman said: "I just fell to the floor and I think Paul burst into tears - it was so totally unexpected. |
| "We can't express our feelings - disbelief. | "We can't express our feelings - disbelief. |
| "We are so grateful to the Iranian people for giving the gift to us, bringing our Felix back home to us." | "We are so grateful to the Iranian people for giving the gift to us, bringing our Felix back home to us." |
| Mr Carman added: "[It's been] absolute hell - an emotional roller coaster without the fun. | Mr Carman added: "[It's been] absolute hell - an emotional roller coaster without the fun. |
| "At times we thought things were looking a bit better, then they got worse again." | "At times we thought things were looking a bit better, then they got worse again." |
| The family of Corp Harris, 24, a Royal Marine from the village of Trevaughan, near Carmarthen, released a statement which said celebrations would be put on hold until it was certain the service personnel were on their way home. | The family of Corp Harris, 24, a Royal Marine from the village of Trevaughan, near Carmarthen, released a statement which said celebrations would be put on hold until it was certain the service personnel were on their way home. |
| Dean Harris, from Carmarthen, is another of the freed Welsh sailors | Dean Harris, from Carmarthen, is another of the freed Welsh sailors |
| The family said: "This is an overwhelming relief to us that they have agreed to free Dean and the rest of them. | The family said: "This is an overwhelming relief to us that they have agreed to free Dean and the rest of them. |
| "But until we can see he is out of there, either on a plane or somewhere safe, we cannot raise our hopes." | "But until we can see he is out of there, either on a plane or somewhere safe, we cannot raise our hopes." |
| A close friend of Corp Harris, Gareth Owen, said he was delighted at the news. | A close friend of Corp Harris, Gareth Owen, said he was delighted at the news. |
| "I'm just putting the beer on ice for when he comes back," he added. | "I'm just putting the beer on ice for when he comes back," he added. |
| The family of Andrew Henderson, 24, from Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, said his parents were "absolutely over the moon". | The family of Andrew Henderson, 24, from Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, said his parents were "absolutely over the moon". |
| On hearing the news, Andrew Henderson's uncle, Jim Pye, said: "We haven't come to terms with it. | |
| "We're ecstatic - it's been awful." | "We're ecstatic - it's been awful." |
| Mr Pye said Operator Maintainer Henderson's family had "spent 13 days just watching the news". | |
| He added his nephew "wouldn't have had a problem" coping with captivity. |